Image: (Mario La Pergola on Unsplash)
Heritage sites face rising crime rates, leading to closures and decreased staff morale, according to new research
An increasing majority of Britain’s heritage sites have been the victim of crime in the past year, forcing increased closures and decreased staff morale, according to new research.
A survey of 500 heritage decision makers earlier this year saw 92% report having suffered crime in the past 12 months, an increase of 2%.
The survey consisted of respondents from 100 museums, 100 theatres, 100 castles, 100 stately homes and 100 galleries, who were surveyed in April 2024.
Among the crimes reported to have increased since 2023 were anti-social behaviour, physical abuse, theft of metal, damage by vehicles, and theft of oil.
Also increasing were littering, visitors refusing to follow instructions, anti-social parking, and petty theft, which increased from 27% to 32%.
The data suggests that the increase in crime has resulted in a growing number of organisations having to close. 35% of respondents reported some sort of closure as a result of crime in the last year.
Low staff and/or volunteer morale as a result of crime has also increased since last year to 41%, from 37% in 2023.
Laura Carter, customer segment director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, which commissioned the study, said: “Our research shows crime has increased and it’s concerning that 92% of heritage organisations have experienced this during the past year.
“Reviewing perimeter security arrangements, ensuring entry points are well lit and secured can often offer a good first line of defence against unwanted visitors, while CCTV can act as a visual deterrent for those not wanting to be caught on camera.”
Already this year, crimes reported include thefts at the National Waterways Museum in Cheshire which resulted in its temporary closure, the theft of Ely Museum’s ‘most prized object’, a 3000 year-old gold torc, and vandalism which halted an event at London Transport Museum.
