Scottish Heritage Crime Group

This partnership, set up in 2019, aims to tackle criminal activity that causes damage to historic buildings and monuments in Scotland. 

Scottish Heritage Crime Group (SHCG) brings together representatives from Historic Environment Scotland (HES), Police Scotland, Treasure Trove, City of Edinburgh Council and the Association of Planning Enforcement Officers. It is a sub-group of the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime.

Heritage crime is defined as any criminal activity that causes damage to a heritage asset. This includes metal theft, vandalism, and intentional damage to both historic buildings and monuments.   

The group works collaboratively to reduce the damage, impact and cost of heritage crime throughout Scotland by raising awareness of the impacts of criminal damage and strengthening information-sharing between partners. 

Crimestoppers also plays a role and enables members of the public to speak up anonymously about damage to Scotland’s historic buildings and monuments.