Heritage Crime
What is 'Heritage Crime'?Heritage crime is any crime that causes harm or damage to a building or monument which has been identified as important to the nation’s heritage, or which spoils the public’s enjoyment of such a building or monument. This definition is supported by the Government and by Historic England. The types of crime which come under the heritage crime umbrella include (though are not limited to):
Statistics show that heritage crime is a large and growing problem in England where approximately one in every five historic buildings is affected in any given year and churches are no exception. In 2019 several churches suffered catastrophic damage as a result of lead roof coverings being stolen; in one case repairing the damage may cost half a million pounds.
Preventing Heritage CrimeHeritage crime is NOT inevitable and there are a number of fairly simple and low-cost actions you can take which will make your church a far less attractive target for criminals. Basic maintenance is in itself a deterrent to criminals as buildings that look as though they are abandoned or falling into disrepair are considered easy prey. Keeping the building open and in use as much as possible also helps deter crime. The more a church building is used and loved by the community it serves, the more that community will rally round to defend it. You should also take these simple precautions which will greatly reduce the likelihood of crime occurring:
Download our FREE booklet “Understanding and Preventing Metal Theft” in PDF format. Whilst this guide deals specifically with metal theft many of the strategies it encourages will prove effective against several other forms of heritage crime.
Reporting Heritage CrimeIf your church becomes the victim of heritage crime you need to report it to the Police, stating specifically that you are reporting an incident of heritage crime. Call 999 ONLY if the crime is in progress, the suspects are still on the scene or there is an immediate danger to life or property. Call 101 if you have discovered a crime that has taken place and the suspect is no longer on the scene. Once you have reported the crime to the Police and to your insurers, you should also inform Church of England Birmingham’s Historic Places of Worship Support Officer, Ian Simpson (tel. 0121 820 9838) who will inform the DAC and Historic England and offer advice and support.
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