The Heritage Crime Group welcomes members from across the Historic Environment and Law Enforcement sectors who have an interest in the protection of our shared Heritage through Prevention, Investigation & Enforcement. The Groups interests cover all aspects of heritage and cultural property crime - terrestrial and maritime. Heritage Crime is defined as: ‘Any offence involving damage or loss to the historic environment, including all offences involving cultural property.’ Cultural property in this instance includes artefacts associated with any aspect of the historic environment.
With new sentencing guidelines for England & Wales and a decade of Heritage crime being studied and challenged, archaeologists are increasingly being called upon as police volunteers and Heritage Crime Advisers to provide a range of investigative and prosecution support including the writing of Impact Statements to support sentencing uplifts. While heritage organisations and law enforcement agencies are working together to better understand the impact of heritage crime, prosecute offenders and help prevent future crimes, This SIG is a hub for both sectors to promote awareness, training and continuing partnership working.
The aims of the Heritage Crime SIG are:
- To raise awareness of the impact of heritage and cultural property crime.
- To help prevent heritage and cultural property crime through signposting of resources including training and guidance.
- To bring together interested parties to identify partnerships and opportunities across heritage and law enforcement.
- To explore with the CIfA Board of Directors the establishment of a register and panel of experts in heritage and cultural property crime.
Join the committee
This year we have a vacancy for a Vice-chair of the Group and are keen to hear from anyone who is interested in the role.
General responsibilities include
- assist the Chair in development of the Heritage Crime Group
- assist the Chair with delegation of tasks and encouraging and supporting the committee
- liaise with CIfA to provide relevant updates and information to Heritage Crime Group members
- request any additional funding for committee business through CIfA staff
- assist the committee with event ideas and/or sourcing content/speakers
To be eligible you must be member of CIfA at PCIfA, ACIfA or MCIfA and have a keen interest in the protection of our shared Heritage through Prevention, Investigation & Enforcement. More information about the process and guidance about what is involved in being part of a CIfA Group committee is available on the CIfA Groups page. If you have any questions about what is involved please email groups@archaeologists.net.
If you are interested in joining the committee please complete this form by Friday 7 November 2025.