Burglars who steal from churches, museums or galleries to get tougher sentence as new rules were announced yesterday from the Sentencing Council so those who steal valuables from buildings can expect to face prison more often, reported the Mail Online in June.
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‘…important the courts are aware of the significant harm and impact that burglary can cause to protected heritage sites…’
Mail Online writes:
Burglars who steal treasures from churches, museums or galleries will get tougher sentences under new rules for the courts announced yesterday.
The instructions to judges and magistrates come from the Sentencing Council, the judge-led body which courts have to follow.
Under the rules, burglars who steal valuables from buildings other than homes can expect to face prison more often.
Vernon Rapley, of the National Museum Security Group, said such crimes risk ‘denuding our national treasures for future generations’…
Mark Harrison, crime chief for Historic England, said: ‘It is important the courts are aware of the significant harm and impact that burglary can cause to protected heritage sites and we welcome this review.’
The new rules – which have been sent out for consultation – will reflect harsher sentencing of burglars who steal from businesses, churches or heritage sites that judges and magistrates have been imposing over the past decade…
Between 2011 and 2015, the share of convicted burglars of non-domestic buildings jailed by magistrates went up…
Sentencing Council member District Judge Mike Fanning said: ‘Burglary disrupts lives and businesses, and can cause tremendous anxiety to the victims of it. It is important that sentences reflect the seriousness of these offences.
‘The proposed revised guidelines introduce a broader range of offence categories.’
See the IHBC’s Toolbox for the IHBC’s Guidance Note on ‘Practical Guidance for bringing Listed Building Prosecutions’
Explore the IHBC’s Prosecutions Database, follow the links
For more background see the IHBC website
See the IHBC’s commentary on the database
