7695 Heritage Metal Identification Guide for Law Enforcement and Scrap Metal Practitioners

As part of Historic England's programme to tackle heritage crime and anti-social behaviour affecting historic sites in England, we are committed to reducing the theft of heritage metals from the historic environment, both terrestrial and marine.

A series of workshops held in 2016 formed the foundation for the instigation of a national campaign to tackle the theft of heritage metals - 'Operation Crucible'. This operation was the first co-ordinated action to involve law enforcement and heritage practitioners working together to check vehicles and premises conveying and storing scrap metals. The activity also highlighted the need for a system to readily identify heritage metals in the absence of an expert practitioner. A guide for railway cable and beer kegs have already been published and circulated.

In order to provide for the conservation of designated heritage assets, including those most at risk through neglect, decay or other threats, Historic England is seeking to procure functions to support an identification guide for law enforcement and scrap metal practitioners.

This project therefore provides the opportunity to research, identify and implement the most effective method to produce and disseminate a heritage metal identification guide. This guide will seek to provide an -

•Effective deterrent and to prevent unlawful removal and disposal of heritage metals, and;

•Accurate and timely identification of metals that have been recovered as part of a criminal investigation or during the process of due diligence i.e. point of sale.