Heritage Watch Feasibility Pilot - AWARD

2021 marks the tenth anniversary of the Heritage Crime Programme. During this period Historic England, in partnership with members of ARCH * stakeholder network, has coordinated the development of a multi-agency partnership that has the capability to prevent and investigate crime and anti-social behaviour within the historic environment.

A key component in the success of this programme has been the introduction of the 'Heritage Watch' scheme. The scheme in it current format successfully operates at a 'macro-level' in Cheshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, North Yorkshire and Wiltshire; and, in specialist community groups such as the National Council for Metal Detecting (NCMD) and the Protected Wreck Association (PWA).

This project will present the opportunity to examin the potential to integrate the scheme at a 'micro-level' across the whole of England. This will be achieved by working with members of ARCH; existing Heritage Watch coorodinators; and, individual owners and managers of designated heritage assets **

* Alliance to Reduce Crime against Heritage

** Listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered battlefields, registered parks and gardens, protected wrecks and military remains. Aims The project aims to:

1 Develop a methodology and pilot areas that will test the feasibility for the national roll-out of the Heritage Watch Scheme (HW). The project will identify the systems and processes required to: o Implement this programme of work across the six Historic England regional areas o Identify the principal owners and managers of designated sites and buildings in England

2 Deliver the 'Confident Calling' crime and incident reporting protocols necessary to drive the quality and quantity of intelligence traffic required for analysis by the Heritage and Cultural Property Crime Analyst (OPAL post funded by HE) in order to produce standard analytical products, for example: market and offender profiles; trend analysis; strategic and tactical assessments etc. This will result in the accurate assessment of the scale and extent of the active and emerging threats to the historic environment.

3 Enhance the strategic partnership National Neighbourhood Watch Network and Crimestoppers;

4 Align the project with the aims and objectives of: o Levelling Up Agenda - Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) o Beating Crime Plan - Home Office o Anti-Social Behaviour Plan - Home Office o High Street Heritage Action Zones (Historic England) o Heritage at Risk (Historic England)

5 Identify opportunities to maintain and sustain the 'Heritage Watch' scheme.