Preventing and detecting heritage crime across Nottinghamshire is the aim of the force’s newly formed Heritage Crime team.
Six officers from across the county have been equipped with specialist skills to respond to reports of heritage crime, courtesy of training delivered by Historic England.
Heritage crime is harm caused to historically significant assets and their settings. This can often be the result of vandalism, theft, criminal damage, arson and specific heritage offences.
Nottinghamshire is home to an abundance of heritage sites, such as Clumber Park near Worksop, and Rufford Abbey Country Park and Thoresby Park, both near Ollerton.
Officers primarily based in neighbourhood policing and response teams will now be on hand to offer advice and deal with potential offences affecting the county’s historic buildings, ancient monuments, and parks and gardens.
They will then work closely with landowners, local authorities, and Historic England to further investigate.
Police cadet leaders have also received training on the ‘Missing Pieces Project’ – a Historic England initiative aimed at gathering photographic evidence of historic assets.
Cadets will visit locations in their local area to help tell the stories of nationally important historic places and to expand on information already available.
Juliet Marshall, Rural and Wildlife Crime Partnerships Manager of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“We have such an abundance of history in Nottinghamshire, and it’s vital that we preserve it for both our residents and visitors who travel miles to experience our sites.
“Some heritage assets are protected by specific legislation to prevent harm caused by damage or unlicensed alteration.
“This can cover a variety of sites, including listed buildings, battlefields, and parks and gardens.
“Sadly, there are those who don’t respect the historic value of our sites, and we hope that the skills honed by our officers will help educate people and preserve our county’s heritage for generations to come.”
Juliet – who has gone through training to be a Heritage Crime Advisor – continued:
“We have many thriving businesses that care for historic sites, and we will be working alongside them to help raise awareness of what heritage crime is and how to report it.
“I would encourage those who work on behalf of historically significant sites to get in touch with our team if they need any advice or want to get further involved in our work.”
Mark Harrison, Head of Heritage Crime at Historic England, said:
“The creation of Nottinghamshire Police’s Heritage Crime Team, supported by specialist training from Historic England, represents a significant strengthening of the force’s capability to safeguard vulnerable historic sites.
“Heritage crime causes serious, often irreversible harm, and this new capability ensures officers have the operational knowledge and skills needed to identify risks, prevent offending, and take decisive enforcement action when necessary.
“To be accredited as Heritage Crime Officers, participants completed a rigorous two-stage assessment process. Officers first undertook four hours of structured online learning and were formally assessed on their responses to ten operational scenarios and case studies. In the second stage, each officer prepared and delivered a detailed heritage crime case study to an expert assessment panel.
Successful completion of both stages leads to the award of an accredited certificate and a uniform patch, formally recognising the officer’s status as a Heritage Crime Officer.”
Rob Holder, General Manager at Clumber Park, added:
“Clumber Park is a Grade I listed park and garden, and with that comes a responsibility to protect and care for this important landscape.
“We’re proud to work alongside like-minded partners such as Nottinghamshire Police and Historic England, who share our commitment to safeguarding heritage. By working together, we can help ensure these special places are protected and can be enjoyed by future generations.”
