Britain’s heritage attractions are a prime target for criminals

New research¹ commissioned by specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical has revealed heritage organisations are a prime target for criminals, as nine in 10 heritage organisations in the UK (91%) have experienced a crime in the last 12 months.

Heritage organisations have suffered an increase in criminal behaviour since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when previous research² from Ecclesiastical found four in five (81%) heritage organisations had experienced a crime.

The survey of 500 heritage workers discovered heritage attractions have suffered trespassing (31%), anti-social behaviour (29%), criminal damage (28%), and theft of contents (27%) during the past year.

A quarter have experienced verbal abuse towards staff and volunteers from visitors (26%) and physical abuse towards staff and volunteers from visitors (26%), representing an increase since the height of the pandemic³.

Crime has negatively impacted heritage organisations, over half have experienced an increase in staff and volunteer anxiety (54%), half have reported low staff and volunteer morale (49%), and 48% reported having to close or reduce opening hours while repairs took place (48%).

On average, crime over the past 12 months has cost heritage organisations more than £60,000.

The vast majority of heritage organisations (95%) have experienced challenging behaviour from visitors during the past 12 months including rude or aggressive behaviour from visitors towards other visitors (45%), visitors have entered / left the property without paying (43%), rude or aggressive behaviour from visitors towards staff or volunteers (41%), visitors have not followed instructions (41%), and anti-social parking (40%).

Four in five heritage organisations (79%) are more concerned about crime since the cost of living crisis. Four in five (83%) believe the cost of living crisis will exacerbate crime for the heritage sector and three quarters (74%) of heritage organisations are expecting an increase in crime over the next year.

Heritage attractions are being proactive about crime prevention, nearly all (96%) have introduced new measures to protect the organisation and deter criminals during the past 12 months. The top investments are CCTV (58%), security guards and patrols (47%), security lighting (41%), alarms (41%), and security fencing (38%).

While the majority of heritage organisations have invested in security measures, three quarters (77%) of heritage workers believe their organisation needs to do more to prevent crime.

In March last year, thieves broke into Christ Church Picture Gallery in Oxford⁴ and stole three historic sixteenth-century paintings worth more than £10million.

Faith Kitchen, customer segment director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Heritage organisations are a prime target for criminals as many house priceless art and antiquities. There are a number of measures heritage organisations can take to better secure property and assets, which would ideally be a combination of both physical and electronic protection. 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.”

Ecclesiastical Insurance offers a range of risk management support and guidance to help heritage organisations manage the risks they face. 

1 The survey was commissioned by specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical and conducted by OnePoll with 500 decision makers from UK heritage organisations from 29 July – 16 August 2022. The sample included 100 museums, 100 theatres, 100 castles, 100 stately homes and 100 galleries.

2 The survey was commissioned by specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical and conducted by OnePoll with 500 decision makers from UK heritage organisations from 24 February – 8 March 2021. The sample included 100 museums, 100 theatres, 100 castles, 100 stately homes and 100 galleries.

3 In 2021, heritage organisations reported experiencing anti-social behaviour (23%), criminal damage (20%), physical abuse towards staff and volunteers from visitors (20%) and verbal abuse towards staff, and volunteers from visitors (19%) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

4 CCTV shows Christ Church Picture Gallery theft | Oxford Mail