Conservation Bulletin 70 | PDF - English Heritage

HERITAGE CRIME
Crown Prosecution Service, is taking forward the
fight against heritage crimes.
• The launch in March 2012 of ‘Heritage Watch’
by Cheshire Police and enforcement agencies –
the first community initiative in the country
that involves the public in caring for their local
heritage assets.
• The police have introduced procedures to
manage the public’s expectations. These include
new methods of call-handling; Single Points of
Contacts (SPOCS) for heritage crime in each
of the force’s 19 Neighbourhood Police Team
areas, and training for officers in heritage assets,
legislation and how to respond to offences.
While heritage crimes will never take precedence
over other more serious types of crime
affecting society, the police are now giving them
a more proportionate response.
• General and targeted communication is integral
to all this, and a joint programme, including the
use of social media to reach younger age groups,
is raising awareness of the issues, highlighting
specific cases, and encouraging people to take
action.
Local authorities have a key role to play in the
fight against heritage crime, and much to gain from
active participation. The experience of Cheshire
West and Chester Council is that a proactive,
co-ordinated and directed response can meet local
people’s needs, add value to the work of individual
partners and improve outcomes.
In the first instance, it has brought communities
together to care for the environment in which
they live. The public’s concerns are being better
addressed, reporting routes have been clarified, and
there is increased confidence that something is
being done (‘you said, we did’).
Secondly, new working relationships have been
forged between professional officers within and
across agencies, creating opportunities to pool
skill-sets, knowledge and expertise.Working more
closely together has also clarified the roles and
responsibilities of those involved in the prevention,
investigation, enforcement and prosecution of
heritage crime.
Thirdly, by tackling crime that degrades our
heritage or that deters us and our visitors from
enjoying it, we are helping to reduce the potential
financial costs to the local economy.
Fourthly, by raising awareness of the issue of
crime and anti-social behaviour in the historic
Heritage Watch aims to bring
communities together to
care for the environment in
which they live.
© Cheshire Police
environment we are achieving recognition that
heritage crimes are not victimless. On the contrary,
they result in considerable social distress, economic
cost and often-irreversible environmental damage.
Finally, by working smarter, sharing services
and involving volunteers we managed to achieve
positive results without increasing costs for the
partners, or diverting existing resources – essential
considerations in the current economic climate.
We are tackling heritage crimes as part of the
day job – and empowering agencies to fulfil their
existing responsibilities. Our work has also been
shaped by the appointment of our first Police
Crime Commissioner, who has already committed
himself to the battle against rural and heritage
crime as part of his new police plan for Cheshire. ■
Chester’s unique Rows
are the target for public
urination and other
anti-social behaviour.
Although a Walk of
Shame has successfully
prevented re-offending,
it has not reduced the
overall number of
incidents of urination.
© Cheshire West and Chester
Council
The roof of the
Grade I St Peter’s
Church, Plemstall,
after attack by
metal thieves in
June 2012.
© Diocese of Chester
12 | Conservation bulletin | Issue 70: Summer 2013