Latest news with #Ecclesiastical
South Wales Argus
08-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Heritage sites urged to boost security after Welsh incidents
The warning comes ahead of a busy summer for UK tourism and follows incidents of crime at Welsh landmarks, including vandalism at Bronllys Castle in Powys. Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical found that 92 per cent of heritage organisations in a recent survey had experienced crime between 2023 and 2024. 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." She said heritage organisations should use a mix of physical and electronic security to protect their sites. Deputy chief constable Rachel Nolan, 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."
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
Number of reported thefts from religious buildings rises over 5 years in Cumbria
Almost 50 thefts from churches and religious buildings across Cumbria have been recorded over the past five years. A freedom of information request has revealed that 47 thefts from religious buildings had been recorded by Cumbria since the start of 2020. The number of recorded incidents had also risen year on year from 7 in 2020 to a high of 11 in both 2023 and 2024. In 2023, more than £1,200 and historic silverware were stolen from St John's Church in Keswick. The numbers come at a time of a 'worrying' new trend of silver theft from churches which has seen irreplaceable silverware worth over £500,000 stolen from churches across the UK over the last 12 months. Churches have long been targeted by thieves stripping copper and lead from their roofs, but this emerging issue poses a threat to priceless historical and religious artefacts. Break-ins across the country have left a trail of destruction, with stained glass windows shattered, heavy oak doors forced open with angle grinders, and even explosives used to access safes, which has left churches devastated in their wake. The huge spike in thefts has led to specialist insurer Ecclesiastical urging churches to review and strengthen their security measures to protect their property from further attacks. Helen Richards, church operations director at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: 'It's appalling that thieves would target churches with zero regard for the impact they have. "Many of the items stolen are irreplaceable and have both historical and sentimental importance. This loss of heritage and the impact on the church and its community is devastating. 'Many of these stolen items are donated to the church and can be hundreds of years old, used by generations of churchgoers, meaning on top of the considerable distress there is the loss of history as these irreplaceable items are lost forever. READ MORE: Labour MP says he would vote against farming tax raid | News and Star 'There is a real risk the economic challenges in the UK and high value of silver could see an increase in thefts from historical buildings such as churches, so we're urging churches across the country take steps to protect themselves and follow our guidance.' Churches often mark silverware and furniture with anti-theft smart water, which works similar to MicroDot technology, meaning it will be difficult for the stolen silver to be sold-on unidentified.
