Full press release
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=417933&NewsAreaID=2
Wake-up Call to Heritage Crimes in the East of England 11 February 2011 09:54 English Heritage (East)
English Heritage Launches Initiative and Calls on the Help of Communities
Crimes and anti-social behaviour that damage the East of England's historic environment will for the first time be tackled in a much more coordinated way through a new initiative launched by English Heritage today (11 February 2011).
Under the strategic guidance of English Heritage, the Police (through the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), a nationwide network is developing among enforcement agencies, local authorities, non-governmental organisations, asset owning groups, professional associations, charities and amenity societies to systematically tackle and reduce offences such as architectural theft including metal theft, criminal damage, illegal metal detecting, graffiti, vehicle nuisance and arson.
The initiative has identified Essex, Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire as pilot areas because of the relatively high incidence of heritage crimes such as nighthawking and vandalism, the presence of many vulnerable heritage sites and the enthusiasm of local partners.
Examples of heritage crime in the East of England include;
- Theft from Early Bronze Age site in Frithsden, Hertfordshire
In February 2010 National Trust staff noticed that one of the prehistoric burial mounds in their care, near Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, had been damaged by an illegal excavation. A trench had been dug in to the top of the Bronze Age barrow, which dates to the period 2400-1500 BC. The Trust reported the damage at this scheduled monument to English Heritage, who commissioned a forensic archaeological recording exercise which was carried out by Canterbury Archaeological Trust and staff from the English Heritage Cambridge Office. The objectives were to record the excavation and recover archaeological information about the barrow, backfill and reinstate the profile of the mound and recover any evidence which might lead to the perpetrators being identified. On this occasion it was not clear whether any prehistoric finds had been removed from the deep trench which had been dug, nor was it possible to establish who had vandalised this nationally significant archaeological monument. Although, the trench was backfilled and the appearance of the barrow restored, we sadly do not know whether precious information about our Bronze Age ancestors has been lost.
- Dunstable Downs - Scheduled Monument targetted by nighthawking.
Illegal metal detecting has taken place on a group of nationally protected Bronze Age barrows on the Dunstable Downs. English Heritage has been working with landowners, including the National Trust, and local authorities in Bedfordshire to raise awareness of heritage crime including illegal metal-detecting including nighthawking. In a recent case on the Dunstable Downs illegal metal-detecting led to fines including costs and a victim surcharge which it is hoped will lead to a reduction in similar offences in the County.
- Houghton House - Grade 1 listed and scheduled 17th century building.
This English Heritage site in Ampthill, Bedfordshire has become the focus of serious levels of antisocial and dangerous behaviour from a small number of local youths. The historic ruin has suffered from vandalism including graffiti sprayed on the walls and interpretation panels. English Heritage has been working with local residents, councillors and the police to try to resolve the situation. A community safety partnership has assisted with investigations and solutions, improving reporting and responses to anti- social behaviour at this important site.
The true extent of heritage crimes is difficult to ascertain due to the system in which they are recorded by the police and also the fact that they tend to be under-reported by victims. The 2009 English Heritage study of the problem of illegal metal detecting suggests that the problem is growing and reported cases are only the tip of the iceberg.
The model of Neighbourhood Policing, established to tackle volume crime and day to day anti-social behaviour, will provide a useful model to tackle heritage crimes and carry out tactical activities to address unique local issues. Local communities are urged to understand the heritage assets in their area that may be at risk of irreversible damage from crime and to be vigilant and to report suspicious behaviours to their neighbourhood policing teams.
The profile and accountability of heritage crimes among police officers will also increase. Richard Crompton, Chief Constable of Lincolnshire, has been appointed as the national lead in the ACPO on heritage crimes. And, for the first time, these crimes will also have a dedicated portfolio holder in many police forces across the country.
Mr Crompton said: "This is a really important step which will have a significant impact upon the problem of crime and anti-social behaviour in and around our historic environment. A great many people care deeply about this sort of crime and I believe that we can tap into that concern and interest and work with communities to make a real difference."
Local authorities across the country will be encouraged to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that English Heritage, ACPO and the CPS have already signed.
Representatives from more than 40 organisations, ranging from The National Trust, Church of England, Crime Stoppers, and Ministry of Defence to National Parks, Woodland Trust and Historic Houses Association, will be meeting for the first time on 11 February to discuss the formation of the Alliance for the Reduction of Crime against Heritage (ARCH), a voluntary national network to take forward the initiatives and galvanise local action.
Local history societies, amenity groups, neighbourhood watch and residents associations will be encouraged to raise awareness of the risk of criminal damage to historic sites and buildings in their area.
Neighbourhood Policing and local involvement is expected to contribute considerably to gathering intelligence and data on the ground, both of which are lacking at present.
Chief Inspector Mark Harrison, seconded from Kent Police in March 2010 to act as Policing Advisor for English Heritage to improve heritage crime prevention and law enforcement in England, said: "Good progress has been made in establishing coordinated working relations between the enforcement agencies and setting priorities at a national level, but the most important part of the initiative is the engagement of communities across the country in establishing their own local networks to prevent and tackle heritage crime. A real difference will only follow if this galvanises local action."
In the next 12 months or so, the heritage crime initiative will focus on the prevention and detection of four broad types of crime:
Damage caused to the historic environment - This refers to physical damage (as a result of fire, graffiti, vandalism and damage caused by cars, motorcycles and other means)
Unlawful excavation and removal of articles from the historic environment - This refers to theft from scheduled monuments or protected wrecks and includes illegal metal detecting.
Architectural theft - This refers to theft of items from historic buildings and structures like stone walls, vintage street signs and pavements. In recent years a new trend has emerged in the theft of lead and metal from roofs and guttering.
Unlawful alteration and demolition of listed buildings
Greg Luton, English Heritage Regional Director for the East of England, said: "Heritage crimes rob us of our history. Their effect on our lives is insidious and felt often too late. Beautiful buildings are scarred forever, places we treasure and enjoy lose their identity and appeal, evidence about our past is lost and tourism suffers, not to mention the burden on owners to repair and put things right. Society needs to work together to combat these criminal activities."
[ends]
Notes to Editors
1. Heritage crime is defined to be crime that causes damage to or interferes with the enjoyment of heritage assets in England.
2. Key initiatives to be taken forward include:
Awareness and Prevention
Provide ARCH members, local authorities and local communities with the knowledge of heritage assets, the threats, the laws that protect them and a guidance relating to preventative measures and enforcement tools
Bring enforcement activity to media attention to build public confidence in police and partnership efforts
Creation of a local Key Individual Network so that activities can be better coordinated and can sustain themselves
Intelligence
Develop a central data recording system that supports accurate and consistent recording of incidents, crimes and prosecution cases
Create an information exchange protocol between enforcement agencies and other relevant bodies
Intervention and Sentencing
Increase understanding of the range of interventions that can used to tackle heritage crimes, from verbal warning and restorative justice actions to injunctions and formal prosecutions
Develop guidance to help people understand what courts and magistrates need to sentence heritage crimes appropriately and provide training on how to write impact statements
Contacts
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