Britain’s heritage attractions urged to take steps to prevent crime

Specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical is urging heritage sites to take steps to prevent being a victim of crime ahead of a bumper summer for UK tourism.

Last year, Ecclesiastical carried out a survey of 500 heritage decision makers and found 92% of heritage organisations have suffered crime between 2023-24.

These included incidents of anti-social behaviour, physical abuse towards staff and volunteers from visitors, theft of metal, damage by vehicles, and theft of oil.

In some instances, these attacks on heritage properties led to closures – with over a third (35%) saying they were forced to close their doors as a result.

With tourism set to generate £33.7 billion¹ in spending in 2025, heritage properties, grappling with rising costs, are relying on the busy summer season to secure essential funds. Any enforced closures threaten their ability to do so, putting their future at risk.

Earlier this year VisitBritain published their forecast, based on International Passenger Survey (IPS) data, of tourists visiting the UK and estimated an increase in numbers from 2024, from 41.2 million visits to 43.4 million visits (5% growth) this year.

Ahead of the summer, when many of the UK’s heritage sites will welcome visitors, Ecclesiastical is encouraging heritage property managers to take precautions.

Laura Carter, Customer Segment Director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “As the UK’s leading insurer of Grade I listed buildings, we’re passionate about protecting Britain’s heritage. In recent years, we’ve seen thefts from heritage properties increase – causing damage to items and places of real historical significance.

“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. Our guidance has been developed by our risk management experts and we hope it will encourage heritage property owners and managers to review the measures in place to help protect their properties from future attacks.”

In the UK, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) work with Historic England and members of ARCH (Alliance to Reduce Crime Against Heritage) to tackle the threat of heritage crime. Ecclesiastical works alongside the partnership to provide valuable insight in the fight against crime.

Rachel Nolan, Deputy Chief Constable and National Policing Lead for Heritage and Cultural Property Crime, said: “Stealing from or damaging any historic buildings or cultural sites is abhorrent. They are attacks on both our national and local heritage and can cause irreplaceable damage.

“We are committed to tackling this issue, and our heritage crime officers across the country will continue to work with partners to reduce offending and raise awareness about the long-lasting damage heritage crime can have.”

Mark Harrison, Head of Heritage Crime, Historic England, added: “Significant progress has been made tackling heritage crime, but there is more that can be done. With the support of government, the hard work of the police, and the help of the community and volunteers, we can help ensure that the heritage that surrounds us all, lives on and is loved for longer."

Ecclesiastical recommends heritage property owners take practical steps to protect themselves, including:

• Try to locate portable valuable items away from the building perimeter, as far from external doors and windows as possible. The further into a property thieves have to go, the longer it will take them and the greater the risk of detection.
• Where valuables are out on display to members of the public, house them in security designed attack resistant display cabinets. Laminated/security glazing should be used, and cabinet frames, locks, and hinges should be designed to resist physical attacks.
• If virtual tours of a property are included on websites, avoid including the location of electronic security measures, such as intruder alarms and CCTV systems, which could be used to inform a planned attack.
• Review perimeter security arrangements. Restrict vehicular access to the site and locate any designated parking as far from the main property as possible. The further thieves have to travel on foot, the greater the risk of detection and the less they can carry away with them.
• Watch out for visitors acting suspiciously. Behaviour such as walking speedily through some rooms but lingering in front of particular exhibits; studying nearby windows and doors, looking for electronic security measures such as closed-circuit television and intruder alarm detectors may be indicative of attack planning.
• Electronic security measures should be reviewed alongside physical security arrangements. Consider the installation of an intruder alarm system to aid early detection of unauthorised access if not already fitted. Where fitted, review existing coverage to ensure the system adequately covers potential access points into the property and target areas where there is a concentration of valuables.

¹UK Inbound Travel & Tourism Statistics | VisitBritain.org