The Heritage Crime Group welcomes members from across the Historic Environment and Law Enforcement sectors who have an interest in the protection of our shared Heritage through Prevention, Investigation & Enforcement. The Groups interests cover all aspects of heritage and cultural property crime - terrestrial and maritime. Heritage Crime is defined as: ‘Any offence involving damage or loss to the historic environment, including all offences involving cultural property.’ Cultural property in this instance includes artefacts associated with any aspect of the historic environment.
With new sentencing guidelines for England & Wales and a decade of Heritage crime being studied and challenged, archaeologists are increasingly being called upon as police volunteers and Heritage Crime Advisers to provide a range of investigative and prosecution support including the writing of Impact Statements to support sentencing uplifts. While heritage organisations and law enforcement agencies are working together to better understand the impact of heritage crime, prosecute offenders and help prevent future crimes, This SIG is a hub for both sectors to promote awareness, training and continuing partnership working.
The aims of the Heritage Crime SIG are:
- To raise awareness of the impact of heritage and cultural property crime.
- To help prevent heritage and cultural property crime through signposting of resources including training and guidance.
- To bring together interested parties to identify partnerships and opportunities across heritage and law enforcement.
- To explore with the CIfA Board of Directors the establishment of a register and panel of experts in heritage and cultural property crime.
Save the date!
Heritage Crime SIG committee members will be hosting a stand at the 2025 Emergency Services Show to be held at the NEC, Birmingham on 17 and 18 September.
The show is Europe's industry-leading, award-winning annual event tailored to the specific needs of emergency services personnel, and Heritage Crime Group will be exhibiting to an audience of over 16,000 blue light attendees.
The Archaeologist HCSIG Takeover
The Summer 2024 issue of The Archaeologist was guest edited by the Heritage Crime Special Interest Group. It includes updates from around the UK and articles on some exciting developments in technology and partnership practice. Grab a cuppa and have a read today.
Publications
Contact
Please email images, events, good news, articles and links to groups@archaeologists.net with 'Heritage Crime Group' in the subject line.