Police launch Heritage Watch

Police are asking the public to help with a crackdown on damage to historic sites and monuments following an uptake in heritage crime.

Heritage Watch is a national scheme that aims to safeguard sites across England. It has a focus on reducing offenses against the historic environment including crimes against cultural property and museum collections. It covers a wide variety of criminal activity from the theft of metal and stone from buildings to anti-social behaviour and unauthorised excavation. As part of the scheme, Country Eye has built a free app for people living and working in the rural community, the app allows users to record and share information on crime or suspicious behaviour. Alternatively, if a crime is in progress, call 999 or for any concerns, call 101.

The scheme is being run regionally by a series of local police forces, including Devon and Cornwall Police, after Men Scryfa, a standing stone in West Cornwall was damaged in a suspected arson.

Speaking about the scheme in Devon and Cornwall, PC Julian Fry, told reporters: “Heritage crime often goes unnoticed, large numbers of heritage sites are extremely remote and rarely visited.

“Heritage Watch is a scheme for landowners, custodians of heritage assets and people who live near heritage sites or are interested in the history and culture of Devon and Cornwall and encourages the proper reporting of information on crime around our heritage assets.”

Similarly, the scheme is being put into effect in Gloucester following lasting damage inflicted on the Grade I listed Cheltenham Minster.

Rev Richard Coombs, the Rector of Cheltenham, told the BBC: “Over the last four and a half years, we’ve had a constant problem with graffiti on these walls. This is the oldest building in Cheltenham and it’s extraordinary that people think they can just come in and spray all sorts of things here.”

You can learn more about the fight against heritage crime and join a local Heritage Watch scheme here.