Draft guidance issued by the Sentencing Council (SC) this month on theft sentences specifically mentions provisions to deal with heritage crime and damage to heritage structures
IHBC members may wish to respond to the consultation which closes on 26 June 2014. Of specific interest may be:
- Question 15- relating to assessment of harm (Damage to heritage structures is included as a criteria, giving the example of the theft of metal plaques from war memorials)
- Question 36- handling of stolen goods assessment of harm (damage to heritage structures is included, as is metal theft causing damage to infrastructure)
The Heritage and Church Insurer Ecclesiastical has also revealed that their latest data shows that more than 6,700 churches and 42 commercial heritage properties have fallen victim to metal thieves in the last five years, costing nearly £12.5 million.
