How To Prevent Heritage Crime

If you’re the custodian of a listed or heritage building, it’s important that you know what steps you need to take to protect it as, unfortunately, heritage crime is a very real threat to such sites and it can be very damaging indeed.

Figures from Historic England show that, in England, historic places are targeted for valuable materials and artefacts, with an estimated 18.7 per cent of all listed buildings physically affected by crime in 2011 - more than 70,000 sites in total.

The biggest single threat was found to be metal theft, while the most threatened type of building was churches, with around three in eight churches or religious sites damaged by crime.

So what can be done to tackle the problem head on and deter potential vandals and thieves from targeting the sites you’re in charge of?

Historic England has a very useful guide to help building owners and managers prevent heritage crime, which includes crime prevention measures (which may need consent), denying access, monitoring exits, formal surveillance, concealing targets, removing temptation, marking property and so on.

What is particularly important to remember where crime prevention measures are concerned is that you may need to sort out planning permission, listed building consent, advertisement consent or scheduled monument consent in order to move ahead with these plans. It can be an offence to carry out work without consent if it is indeed required.

It would be wise to get in touch with your local authority planning department if you’re in doubt as to whether consent is necessary in order to introduce crime prevention measures.

For help with listed building restoration, get in touch with Ovolo London today.