Local history societies, amenity groups, neighbourhood watch and residents' association are all being encouraged to be more vigilant of criminal damage to historic sites and buildings in their area and report any suspicious activities to the police.
Cheshire West and Chester Council is among the first authorities to respond and integrate heritage crime reduction activities through the existing framework of its Community Safety Partnership and wider community work.
Cllr Hilarie McNae, Cheshire West and Chester Council's Heritage Champion, said: "Heritage crime is seriously affecting the conservation of our ancient buildings and monuments, and as the caretakers of thousands of years of history we have a responsibility to do everything we can to stop it. By working with our partners including the Police, we are delivering a co-ordinated approach to ensure our heritage assets are cherished, valued and protected for future generations."
Mark Harrison, National Policing Advisor at English Heritage, said: "Many communities realise that heritage crimes do not only damage buildings but also the quality of life in their area. We hope that more community networks will be established with the skills, understanding and information to make a real difference."
The full research contains much more data and is available on the English Heritage website: www.english-heritage.org.uk/heritagecrime.
|