Newcastle University

Project:

Crime and anti-social behaviour facing designated heritage assets

From November 2011 to January 2012
Project Leader(s): David Bradley
Staff: Mike Coombes
Contact: David Bradley
Sponsors: English Heritage
Partners: Loughborough University and Council for British Archeology

The true extent of heritage crime is difficult to measure: this is due to the way in which it is currently recorded and because it tends to be under-reported by victims.
 
The project will collate available data, and collect new data, related to heritage crime over the past five years.

The research is in partnership with Dr Louise Grove, Loughborough University and Dr Suzie Thomas, Council for British Archeology. 

The £40,000 study will seek to answer questions such as the following.

    •    What type of heritage asset has been most affected by crime?
    •    Which heritage crime is most prevalent (e.g. theft, change without consent)?
    •    Which crime type is each heritage asset type most at risk from?
    •    What types of area (e.g. remote rural) are most affected by heritage crime?
    •    What is known about who is responsible for major types of heritage crime?
    •    Can recent trends in heritage crime be linked to social or economic changes?
    •    What is the evidence on the impact of crime, from damage to heritage assets to the value of an asset to owners and as an attraction to other users?