Heritage crimes recorded for 2023

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.039014

I note you seek access to the following information:

Cultural heritage trafficking can be defined as the theft, looting and other crimes that causes that destruction and loss of artefacts and artwork with historical and cultural value which are often irreplaceable. These items are then transported and sold in other locations.

Crimes that are often linked to cultural heritage trafficking:

Theft
Looting
Fraud
Counterfeiting
Illegal exporting
Violation of national patrimony laws
Burglary

1. Are heritage crimes recorded in their own category or in a general category such as theft
2. How many of these heritage crimes as described (examples listed below) has your force recorded for the year 2023 (from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023)
   - Theft
   - Looting
   - Fraud
   - Violation of national patrimony laws
   - Burglary
3. How does your force respond to the crimes listed below (these are the most common crime types linked to cultural heritage trafficking) in relation to heritage crime as described
   - Theft
   - Looting
   - Fraud
   - Violation of national patrimony laws
   - Burglary
4. What is the most common outcome to heritage crimes investigations in the year of 2023
   - Arrest
   - Conviction
   - No charge
5. What locations in your forces area are the most targeted for heritage crimes in the year of 2023
6. What items are the most targeted in your forces area for heritage crimes in the year of 2023 – such as historical coins, historical artefacts, art works, lead roofing from churches
7. Are groups or individuals committing heritage crimes in your forces area in the year 2023
8. Are there links to organised crime in your forces area in relation heritage crime in the year 2023
9. Have items stolen in heritage crimes from England been retrieved in your forces area in the year 2023
10. Have items stolen in heritage crimes from abroad been retrieved in your forces area in the year 2023
11. Does your force work with international partners such as Interpol when dealing with heritage crimes.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

There is no flag or feature code on the Met’s crime recording system relating to heritage crime so it is not possible to provide figures in relation to heritage crimes. The MPS cannot accordingly respond to questions 2, 4, 5, 6 and 9 of your request for information.

The MPS can provided a response to parts 1, 3, 7, 8 10 and 11 of your request. Further information to assist you with your enquiry has been provided in the section titled ‘Voluntary Disclosure’ below.

Q1 - Are heritage crimes recorded in their own category or in a general category such as theft –

No, heritage crimes are not flagged, marked or otherwise recorded in their own category on the MPS crime system. The only criminal offence that is categorised as cultural crime is the offence of: Dealing in Cultural Objects Act 2003.

Q3 - How does your force respond to the crimes listed below (these are the most common crime types linked to cultural heritage trafficking) in relation to heritage crime as described
- Theft
- Looting
- Fraud
- Violation of national patrimony laws
- Burglary

Each crime reported will be considered on four key factors:

• vulnerability of the victim
• seriousness of the crime
• likelihood of solving it
• best use of our resources

Q7 - Are groups or individuals committing heritage crimes in your forces area in the year 2023.

Yes.

Q8 - Are there links to organised crime in your forces area in relation heritage crime in the year 2023.

Yes.

Q10 - Have items stolen in heritage crimes from abroad been retrieved in your forces area in the year 2023.

Yes.

Q11 - Does your force work with international partners such as Interpol when dealing with heritage crimes.

Yes.

VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE

The Art and Antiques Unit (AAU) have been able to confirm the following answers to your questions:

Q2 - How many of these heritage crimes as described (examples listed below) has your force recorded for the year 2023 (from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023)
- Theft
- Looting
- Fraud
- Violation of national patrimony laws
- Burglary

During this period the AAU received 119 referrals; more than half come from overseas law enforcement agencies.

Q4 - What is the most common outcome to heritage crimes investigations in the year of 2023
- Arrest
- Conviction
- No charge

At least one person was arrested in 2023 by the AAU, and at least six persons were interviewed under caution.

Q5 - What locations in your forces area are the most targeted for heritage crimes in the year of 2023.

The UK is third largest art market in the world. Twelve percent of the UK’s auction houses are located in London therefore a significant proportion of heritage crime in London relates to the London art market.

Q6 - What items are the most targeted in your forces area for heritage crimes in the year of 2023 – such as historical coins, historical artefacts, art works, lead roofing from churches.

In 2023, stolen paintings represented 32% of AAU enquiries. Antiquities is the next largest area of referrals constituting 27% of the work undertaken by the AAU.