Heritage crime and scheduled monuments

Scheduled monuments are archaeological and historic sites of national importance. The protections for scheduled monuments are set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. This strong protection reflects how much people value the historic environment and how important scheduled monuments are. HES gives permission for works at scheduled monuments through a process called scheduled monument consent (SMC).

We investigate, and seek to resolve, any works that happen without our permission. We also investigate reports of deliberate damage, often working with police.

Scheduled monuments and the information they contain are finite resources – they help tell the story of Scotland’s past. The consents system allows us to make sure that any works that happen are legal, suitable for the monument, well considered, and done in an appropriate way.

It is against the law to damage a scheduled monument, or to permit or undertake works to it or metal detect on it without our permission. We call this ‘unauthorised works’.

Damage and unauthorised works are criminal offences and heritage crime.

You can find out if a site is a scheduled monument by searching our website.

Search for a Protected Historic Place

• If you see someone damaging a scheduled monument, contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

• If damage has already taken place, you can contact us by emailing report@hes.scot

• If you want to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

If you don’t know if works to a scheduled monument have consent, please email us at report@hes.scot or contact us by telephone on 0131 668 8716.