INTERNATIONALLY important heritage sites
are being ravaged by a rising tide of crime and vandalism, with Yorkshire one
of the worst hit areas in the country, according to shocking statistics
released today.
English Heritage said the
“worrying” rate of attacks on the region’s historical assets
had been revealed for the first time after it commissioned the first ever
survey of so-called heritage crime across the country.
The study shows that Yorkshire, along
with the north east and north west of England, tops the table of destruction,
with more than a fifth of historic sites suffering some kind of attack over the
last year.
London suffers the lowest level of
heritage crime, and English Heritage bosses said their figures showed a
“strong link” between the problem and levels of deprivation in
communities in the depressed North.
Experts said heritage crime encompassed
everything from low-level anti-social behaviour and criminal damage to metal
thefts and the deliberate raiding of archaeological sites undergoing painstaking
work.
Henry Owen-John, a planning director at
English Heritage said: “This is the first time we have carried out a
comprehensive analysis of the threat crime poses to our precious and vulnerable
heritage.
“The figures for the North are
alarming, particularly for metal theft. Damage done to a listed building or an
archaeological site can often not be put right and centuries of history will be
lost forever.
“These places have an obviously
high value to society. Their particular vulnerability warrants every effort to
ensure they are still around for future generations to enjoy just as much as we
enjoy them now.”
English Heritage’s study forms
part of its recently-launched Heritage Crime Initiative, sparked after
high-profile vandalism attacks on major Yorkshire assets such as
Clifford’s Tower in York.
Councils and other interested bodies are
being urged to sign up to the project and attacks on other assets, such as
English Heritage-owned Monk Bretton Priory, in Barnsley, have added further
urgency.
Staff were forced to close the site last
summer. after it was repeatedly targeted by vandals who stole items from the
Grade-I listed, 13th century building.
Bishops’ House in Sheffield has
also suffered crime, including attempted arson, which led to the installation
of CCTV and plans for a fence around the half-timbered structure, which dates
to 1500.
Sheffield Council, which owns
Bishops’ House, is currently discussing signing up to the Heritage Crime
initiative, along with South Yorkshire’s other three councils.
The county’s principal
archaeologist, Dinah Saich, said she found the English Heritage figures
“surprising and disappointing”.
She added: “These figures show
just how important it is to protect these sites. Metal theft is a huge problem,
and Sheffield’s old post office in Fitzalan Square has been totally
ruined by such attacks.
“But archaeological sites are also
under attack from what we call treasure hunters.
“The problem is that a lot of
heritage crime currently goes unreported, because people in charge of buildings
and sites, and the public who may see it happening, often think that nobody
will be interested.
“Until now it has been very
difficult to put a figure on it, but now we can see how many sites are damaged
and in the case of archaeology, the extent of the loss of items that are
totally irreplaceable.”
The Association of Chief Police officers
has signed up to the Heritage Crime Initiative and lead officer Richard
Crompton, Lincolnshire’s Chief Constable, said it was now being taken
“very seriously”.
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