Nine in 10 heritage sites have suffered criminal attacks

NINE in 10 of Britain’s heritage attractions have suffered from crime in the past year, research reveals.

A total of 91 per cent of stately homes, castles, museums and galleries have fallen victim to vandalism, theft and anti-social behaviour.

That marks a 10 per cent increase since the height of the Covid pandemic, when research found that four in five (81 per cent) of heritage organisations had experienced crime.

As many as 95 per cent – up from 91 per cent last year – have seen “challenging behaviour” from visitors, with staff and volunteers reporting more incidents of both physical and verbal abuse from visitors.

While many of the organisations have been forced to reduce opening hours, to deal with repairs from criminal damage, staff and volunteers are feeling a heightened sense of anxiety and low morale.

Cash-strapped heritage organisations are finding that, on average, crime over the past 12 months has cost them more than £60,000.

They are so alarmed by the scale of the problem that three-quarters of them fear that the cost of living crisis will lead to even more criminal incidents over the next year.

The Heritage and Crime survey, which involved 500 respondents, was commissioned by Ecclesiastical Insurance and conducted by OnePoll.

Faith Kitchen, Ecclesiastical Insurance’s heritage director, said: “The numbers are alarmingly high. In the current economic environment, heritage organisations have told us that they are expecting crime to increase. The situation has certainly worsened.”

She added: “It is a massive issue. It’s clear to see. Whilst we’re seeing ad hoc criminal activity, there’s also more organised criminal activity, particularly around smash and grabs and thefts of metal and stone, stolen to order…

“It’s really disheartening for the sector when something like that happens because so many of the volunteers and staff care very deeply about the buildings and what they’re working with.

“The current economic environment has also meant that many of the repairs become more costly as well. If organisations have to close their doors, it’s having an even bigger financial impact, which is devastating for them.”