ABSTRACT
In 2010, Historic England – the government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment in England – developed a definition for heritage crime as “any offence which harms the value of England’s heritage assets and their settings”. In 2011, Historic England in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Crown Prosecution Service recognised the need to develop a specific strategy and tactical plan that could deliver a structured, coordinated and sustainable approach to prevent, investigate and enforce heritage crime offences. The Heritage Crime Programme has developed and evolved during a period of extended financial austerity, political uncertainty, changing trends in criminal behaviour and policing governance with the introduction of elected Police and Crime Commissioners throughout the United Kingdom. In 2014, a number of Police and Crime Commissioners representing rural communities across England and Wales identified the need to provide a focus on “effective policing, crime prevention and community safety in rural areas”.
