New data is sought for IHBC’s ‘LB Prosecutions Database’ so if you have been involved with a case please forward the details to Bob Kindred at government@ihbc.org.uk – preferably with the data used in our online table linked below.
… Institute’s on-line UK LB Prosecutions Database invaluable…
Bob Kindred writes:
‘Successful prosecutions for listed building offences have often found the Institute’s on-line UK LB Prosecutions Database invaluable in briefing local authority legal and/or enforcement teams; and that the Database and its companion resource Historic England ‘Heritage Crime Guidance for Sentencers 2017’ have been equally helpful to the courts when considering sentencing. Other guidance on this subject also appears in the IHBC Toolbox.
The database is there to help you. Started in 1996 to provide comparative data, it relies on volunteered information from our members; however, the Institute has noted recently that some local authority prosecutions have been successfully concluded but the details have not been forwarded to us and we have been reliant instead on the hit-and-miss coverage from local newspapers.
For many years government best practice guidance has encouraged prosecutions where a good case could be sustained not least for the deterrent value of the publicity. In informing IHBC directly we can follow in particular cases resulting in low fines, to see if these were informed (or not) by the Database or the Historic England guidance or our other guidance.
If you have been involved with a case that is not on the database, please forward the details to me at government@ihbc.org.uk preferably with the data used in the online table i.e.: size of fine; costs awarded; the nature of the offence; address; grade of building; type of court (Magistrates or Crown). Additional information (e.g., a guilty plea or observations by the court), a press release or photos is always informative.
View the relevant tabs for the IHBC LB Prosecutions Database
Visit the IHBC Listed Buildings Database Commentary
For the ‘Heritage Crime Guidance for Sentencers 2017’ see the IHBC NewsBlog
For background see the NewsBlog
