4.4c What is the nature, scope, and geographic distribution of crime against museums and cultural property in the UK, and what offences are being prosecuted?

Background

DCMS is keen to build the evidence base on the role of culture in crime prevention and rehabilitation. We particularly welcome research on how we can leverage the social benefits of arts and culture participation to reduce crime and violence alongside developing greater insight on responding to crime when it does occur. The department’s interest in this area focuses on two strands: Firstly, the role of cultural engagement in reducing crimes, including re-offending rates. Secondly, the department seeks to better understand crimes that target cultural assets, specifically theft and damage against museums and cultural property, and where interventions might have the most impact. Our particular emphasis on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in preventing these offences points to our interest in understanding the opportunities that innovation might offer for crime detection and prevention.

Next steps

Get in touch with [email protected]

Related UKRI funded projects

  • ARTS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: EXPERT WORKSHOP

    Lorraine Gamman is Professor of Design at Central Saint Martins (CSM), part of the University of the Arts London (UAL) as well as Visiting Professor/Research Associate with the Designing Out Crime Research Centre at the ...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: University of the Arts London

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on the role of cultural engagement in reducing crimes, but does not specifically address crime against museums and cultural property in the UK.

  • Our Criminal Past: Caring for the Future

    'Our Criminal Past' aims to create a new interdisciplinary research network of UK-based scholars working in the field of the criminal, legal and penal history of Britain. The network will uniquely bring these scholars to...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: Leeds Beckett University

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to create a research network on the criminal, legal, and penal history of Britain, which could provide insights into the nature and scope of crime against museums and cultural property in the UK.

  • Turning the tables on crime: Boosting evidence of impact design against crime and the strategic capacity to deliver practical design solutions

    This 3-year project aims to design and modify a range of security fittings intended to prevent theft of assorted bags in bars, and evaluate their impact in six high- crime London venues. The twin purposes are to provide ...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: University of the Arts London

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on designing security fittings to prevent theft, which could provide insights into crime prevention strategies for museums and cultural property in the UK.