75,000 ‘heritage crimes’ committed in a year

More than 200 crimes a day are being committed against Britain’s historic sites, a report warns today, prompting fears that “irreversible harm” is being done to the country’s heritage.

The official study found that more than 75,000 “heritage crimes” took place in 2011.

Criminals targeted World Heritage Sites, listed buildings, churches, parks and gardens, battlefields, conservation areas and shipwreck sites, according to English Heritage.

The damage suffered included metal theft, vandalism, graffiti and arson, with one in eight important sites being attacked.

Experts warn that the “alarming” figures show that Britain’s history is being destroyed in an “insidious and often irreversible way” for future generations.

More than 30,000 listed buildings suffered substantial damage while anti-social behaviour around heritage sites was commonplace, the study found.