FOI 705/24 Heritage Crimes

Dear Sir/Madam

 

Enquiry Reference:  705 - 24                                                                        

 

I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request.  Below is your request and our response.

 

Cultural heritage trafficking can be defined as the theft, looting and other crimes that causes that destruction and loss of artifacts 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 1st of January 2023 to 31st of 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

 

Having made enquiries within the Force our answer on this occasion is no information held.  We do not have a flag or field to identify heritage crimes.

 

Please note that all statistical data supplied in relation to Freedom of Information requests is a snapshot of data held at the time the request was received by the Freedom of Information office and is subject to constant change/updates.

 

The Cleveland Police response to your request is unique and it should be noted that Police Forces do not use generic systems or identical procedures to capture and record data therefore responses from Cleveland Police should not be used as a comparison with any other force response you receive.

 

If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request, you have the right to request an independent internal review of your case under our review procedure. The Freedom of Information Code of Practice (see below link) states that a request for internal review should be made within 20 working days of the date on this response or 40 working days if extenuating circumstances to account for the delay can be evidenced. Public authorities are not obliged to accept internal reviews after this date.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-code-of-practice

 

 

Yours sincerely

Information Rights Decision Maker