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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
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13 results foundAuthor: Bradley, David Title: The Extent of Crime and Anti-social Behaviour Facing Designated Heritage Assets: Final Report Summary: Heritage crime has been defined as any offence which harms the value of England's heritage assets and their settings to this and future generations. There has been growing concern at the risks of crime and anti-social behaviour faced by designated heritage assets, but the true extent of heritage crime had remained difficult to measure. This study collated and analysed data on damage from criminal behaviour to heritage assets in England. The report provides a review of the data collection procedures undertaken by the study to identify those that are most effective in building understanding of the scale and nature of heritage crime. The report then tries to answer a series of key questions about heritage crime. Finally there are some conclusions and selective recommendations aimed at improving future understanding of heritage crime. This study has trialled five main different data collection processes, aiming to find ‘what works’ for potential repeat research in future years: stratified survey of heritage asset owners and guardians web searches e-survey of interested organisations and others survey of local authorities in relation to unlawful development collation of other data. These innovative heritage crime data collection activities yielded an unprecedented volume of information, which have been processed into two main data types: responses from the stratified sample of heritage asset owners/guardians to a phone survey collated database of individual heritage crimes. The primary value of the crime database is in its provision of extra, more qualitative, information beyond that obtainable from the stratified survey. The empirical material is drawn on to answer in turn the specific questions that the study has addressed. How prevalent is heritage crime in different types of area? heritage assets located in central urban areas face the risks common to all buildings in such areas heritage crime risk does not vary very consistently between broad areas of the country in areas with few heritage assets (eg. many deprived areas), assets face higher heritage crime risk in-depth research is needed to assess further the true level of unauthorised developments to assets What type of heritage crime is most prevalent? criminal damage makes up the bulk of all heritage crime the risk of criminal damage to heritage assets is substantially greater in more deprived areas the frequency of metal theft also warrants separate consideration metal theft is higher where historic assets are few, and in particular in the North What types of heritage asset are most affected by crime? variation in overall heritage crime risk was slight between most heritage asset types criminal damage is the main heritage crime risk for Listed Buildings and in Conservation Areas damage by owners due to unauthorised changes is a non-trivial element of the total picture metal theft is not a great risk to buildings in Conservation Areas that are not individually designated Scheduled Monuments are different to other heritage assets, in being at rather low risk of metal theft and criminal damage, and higher risk of other crime such as unauthorised metal detecting What type of heritage crime most affects each type of heritage asset? criminal damage is the main heritage crime risk for all use types of heritage assets except farms religious buildings stand out with their higher risk of criminal damage and, most notably, metal theft some of the evidence points to a higher risk for buildings that are unoccupied for more of the time otherwise the risk ‘profile’ by heritage crime types and ASB does not vary greatly by building usage What can be said on the extent of different types of impact of heritage crime? variation in risk of higher impact crime was slight between most heritage asset types criminal damage is the main risk leading to impact on all asset types arson is infrequent but can have huge monetary costs and damaging impacts on the fabric metal theft can also have significant ‘secondary’ effects beyond the direct cost of replacement evidence on BT Listed call boxes shows repair costs per incident varying little by area, but incidence varies in the ways seen before (higher in more urban, more deprived and less historic areas) What is known about links between socio-economic trends and recent trends in heritage crime? the trend itself remains uncertain little is confidently known of factors ‘driving’ heritage crime trends generally it appears that metal theft is a growing problem, and this is linkable to wholesale metal price trends overall acquisitive crime levels may have changed little, but a ‘diversion‘ to metal theft may also mean a ‘diversion’ towards heritage crime because of the amount of lead on historic roofs The final part of the report draws together observations and recommendations about ‘what worked’ in the data collection processes, and then sketches a small number of reflections on the data needed by those tackling heritage crime, and some further research which may assist them. Is it possible to instigate common practices in heritage crime data recording? The most directly relevant enhancement of official crime recording could be the introduction of a specific question as to whether a heritage asset was involved in the crime. Agreed terminology allows keyword searches to be efficient and to yield robust results, and a new terminology has been devised for the collated crimes database of this study. An ideal development would be for all future British Crime Surveys to include an indicator of the heritage status (or otherwise) of the location of each respondent. Are there implications from the study for broader issues related to heritage crime? The most fundamental question – which has not been addressed by this study – is whether “heritage crime” should be specifically recognised in law, rather than be covered either directly or in part by a large number of separate strands of legislation. Should there be continual or repeated heritage crime data collection? Several of the sources accessed in this study are, for various reasons, unlikely to produce statistical data from which robust estimates of national prevalence can be produced. Heritage Asset owners and guardians 6 could be re-surveyed on a regular basis, but other data gathering efforts would incur lower cost and could be a valuable way of keeping aware of emerging concern. There are also non-statistical reasons for further information gathering, where this is a focus of partnership building activities. Are there other opportunities for improving intelligence on heritage crime? Police Forces have the technical skills required to perform analysis on data they already have, but this would be helped if heritage asset owners and guardians were to consistently report incidents: this study found that 1 in 3 of the heritage crimes recalled in the survey had not been reported. Should there be other heritage crime research studies following up points raised here? Crimes on heritage assets in a marine environment will only be adequately researched by a separate dedicated study. Another type of heritage crime requiring a specific study would be the use of metal detectors for illegal activities detrimental to archaeology. The study also leads to the suggestion of research on the scale of unlawful developments to heritage assets by their owners or guardians. Finally there is the possibility of comparative research to assess whether the patterns in heritage crime found in this study are limited to England, although such studies would need to take into account the variations in legislation between different jurisdictions in the British Isles. Details: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK; Newcastle University, 2012. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2012 at: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/content/imported-docs/p-t/researchpaper.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/content/imported-docs/p-t/researchpaper.pdf Shelf Number: 125679 Keywords: AntiquitiesAntisocial BehaviorArt CrimeCultural PropertyHeritage Crime (U.K.)Property Crimes |
Author: Chabiera, Aleksandra, Coordinator Title: Stop Heritage Crime: Good Practices and Recommendations Summary: he objective of the EEA and Norway grants is to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe. The objective is also to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Poland and Norway. The protection of cultural heritage has been, and will continue to be, an important priority for the EEA and Norway grants. I am pleased that money is not only allocated to the revitalisation of monuments, but also to enforce the knowledge and awareness of the need for preventing illicit trade in cultural objects. The Cultural Exchange Fund has been an important tool for increasing cultural cooperation and establishing long-term relationships between cultural institutions in Poland and Norway. I am pleased that more than 70 projects have been supported, and a large number of events have taken place both in Norway and Poland, including music and theatre performances, art exhibitions, and workshops for artists and experts within the various areas of art and cultural heritage. National characteristics are found in cultural expressions in the forms of traditions, ideals, customs, values, music, art, designs, performances, architectural forms, handicrafts and narratives, therefore, cultural objects constitute an important part of our national identity. People travel more and more, and increasingly to distant and exotic places. The cultural impressions travel back home with us, sometimes as cultural objects. Many travellers are not aware of the fact that bringing cultural objects home deprives their countries of origin of the historical values that are important to their identity. Often this is more a matter of ignorance and carelessness than intentional crime. Cultural treasures constitute great values. There is, therefore, alsounfortunately, an international market for the illicit trade of such items. Countries at war and countries with weak legal systems and little control are the most vulnerable to such trade. The cultural objects that are traded on this black market are difficult to trace and to bring back. International cooperation is necessary to meet the challenges, both from ignorant travellers and from criminals. The UNESCO convention is important in this respect. I am pleased that Poland and Norway can learn from one another through the sharing of knowledge and experiences, this will improve awareness and actions in both countries. Details: Warsaw, Poland: National Heritage Board of Poland, 2011. 148p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2012 Year: 2011 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 125684 Keywords: AntiquitiesArt TheftCultural Property, TheftHeritage CrimeProperty Theft |
Author: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Title: Application of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. First Periodical Report: Norway Summary: This first periodical report describes the implementation in Norway of the provisions of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. The preparation of Norway's first periodical report has been coordinated by the Ministry of Culture based on reports and information from relevant museums and public authorities as concerns their respective remits. In letters dated 9 November 2010 the Ministry of Culture invited the following bodies to present their views on the current situation concerning illicit trade in cultural objects in response to the questionnaire submitted from the UNESCO Secretariat for the preparation of this report: Arts Council Norway1 The Ministry of Trade and Industry The Customs and Excise Authorities The Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (Økokrim) The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design The Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage (Riksantikvaren) The Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo As far as practicable, the present report follows the structure of the proposed guidelines from the UNESCO Secretariat. Details: Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2011. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2012 at: http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/KUD/Kunstavdelingen/Rapporter_Utredninger/UNESCO-periodicalreport_1970_Convention-march2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Norway URL: http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/KUD/Kunstavdelingen/Rapporter_Utredninger/UNESCO-periodicalreport_1970_Convention-march2011.pdf Shelf Number: 125849 Keywords: AntiquitiesArt TheftCultural Property, Theft (Norway)Heritage CrimeProperty Theft |
Author: Johansson, Hanna Sofia Title: Preventing Illegal Export of Cultural Objects: Summary Summary: Most countries have adopted legislation for protecting against the export of certain older cultural objects. There are also common EU regulations regarding the export of such objects to a third country. In Sweden, export has been regulated by law since the beginning of the 1920’s. A person who unlawfully takes out a protected object from the country risks being sentenced for up to six years in prison for smuggling. The purpose behind the legislation is that objects that are considered important to the cultural heritage should remain within the country. Cultural heritage is considered important because it contributes to the creation of a common identity. Additionally, it is seen as especially valuable because a cultural heritage that is lost cannot be compensated for financially. Objects that are encompassed by the export regulations include old paintings, drawings, incunabula2, books, archives and other antiques. Examples of objects included in the “other antiques” category are the cabinet on the front cover and the mirror sconce on the back cover. In general, the export restrictions apply to cultural objects that are older than 100 years. For many objects, there are also value limits that need to be reached in order for the export regulations to apply. There is no value limit for old furniture, and the age limit is fixed. This means that all furniture manufactured before 1860 requires a permit for export. Details: Stockholm: The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå), 2012. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 6, 2013 at: http://www.bra.se/download/18.4dfe0028139b9a0cf4080001495/2012_10_preventing_illegal_export_of_cultural_objects_summary.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Sweden URL: http://www.bra.se/download/18.4dfe0028139b9a0cf4080001495/2012_10_preventing_illegal_export_of_cultural_objects_summary.pdf Shelf Number: 128298 Keywords: AntiquitiesArt CrimeCultural PropertyHeritage Crime (Sweden)Property Crimes |
Author: Chappell, Duncan Title: Quantifying and Describing the South and South East Asian Illicit Antiquities Trade: Australia as an Overlooked Destination? Summary: The illicit antiquities trade, especially concerning smaller, portable artefacts deliberately stolen from archaeological sites, temples and museums, remains the greatest threat to the global archaeological record. To date, documenting and interdicting this trade has been severely restricted, primarily due to lax or conflicting enforcement practices, national and international laws, and an incomplete understanding of the size and scope of the market in both 'supply' and 'demand' countries. Asia, and especially South East Asia, is "on Australia's doorstep." Recent events (discussed below) suggest that Australia is an overlooked destination for illicitly obtained Asian-region antiquities. The overarching and immediate goals of this project, therefore, are to begin quantifying and describing the licit and illicit Australian antiquities market associated with the South East Asian region, as well as to collect preliminary data on the trade from one specific country - Vietnam. In this Briefing Paper, the reasons for selecting Vietnam as a detailed study are noted, together with proposed plans for 'in country' field research. Following this, a preliminary analysis of the nature and scope of the Australian antiquities market is undertaken, including an examination of a recent case, that of BC Galleries (Vic) Pty Ltd v Commonwealth of Australia (BCG 2012), to illustrate deficiencies in the existing cultural heritage protection laws in Australia, and especially the current limited capacity to repatriate looted objects to their country of origin. The paper concludes with observations on the need for reform in both the area of legislation and enforcement policy to ensure Australia fulfills its national and international cultural heritage protection obligations. Details: Nathan, Queensland: The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security (CEPS), 2013. 8p. Source: The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security (CEPS) Briefing Issue 24: Internet Resource: Accessed January 16, 2014 at Year: 2013 Country: Asia URL: http://www.ceps.edu.au/CMS/Uploads/file/Chappell%20Huffer%20issue%2024%20WEBB.pdf Shelf Number: 131779 Keywords: AntiquitiesArt Theft Cultural Property, TheftHeritage CrimeProperty Theft |
Author: European Commission. Directorate-General for Home Affairs Title: Study on Preventing and Fighting Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Goods in the European Union Summary: The trafficking in cultural goods is among the biggest criminal trades, estimated by some to be the third or fourth largest, despite the fact that, as INTERPOL notes, there are hardly any instruments for measuring this trade or any data on illicit commerce. The information dossier that UNESCO produced for the 40th anniversary of the 1970 Convention observes that, together with the drugs and armaments trades, the black market in antiquities and culture constitutes one of the most firmly rooted illicit trades in the world. Despite the difficulty of obtaining statistics, the scale of this phenomenon calls for concentrated and convergent efforts on the part of States and at the European and international levels. At stake is the safeguarding of the heritage of States. The European Union can today take a more active approach to preventing and combating the trafficking in cultural goods. As the Council of the European Union recalls, "one of the objectives of the European Union is to protect Europe's public and private cultural heritage by combating trafficking in cultural goods", and it further emphasizes that "in view of the economic and commercial dealings which characterise it and the artistic and cultural heritage which it contains, the territory of the European Union is a favoured target for criminal organizations". Hence the need to launch a specific reflection on developing more effective means within Europe, in close relation with the instruments developed at international level. It was with this in mind that the process of reflection in the context of this study, entrusted by the Commission to CECOJI, was undertaken. Details: Brussels: The European Commission, 2011. 192p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 24, 2015 at: http://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/doc_centre/crime/docs/Report%20Trafficking%20in%20cultural%20goods%20EN.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Europe URL: http://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/doc_centre/crime/docs/Report%20Trafficking%20in%20cultural%20goods%20EN.pdf Shelf Number: 136560 Keywords: AntiquitiesBlack MarketsCultural HeritageIllicit TradingOrganized CrimeTrafficking in Cultural Goods |
Author: Fanusie, Yaya J. Title: Monumental Fight: Countering the Islamic State's Antiquities Trafficking Summary: As the nation's largest professional organization of archaeologists on the Middle East holds its annual meeting this week in Atlanta, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) has released a new report analyzing the strategic role of antiquities trafficking in funding the terrorist group known as Islamic State (IS). The report, "Monumental Fight: Combatting Islamic State's Antiquities Trafficking," provides the most comprehensive look to date at IS's involvement in the illicit trade. The report is co-authored by former CIA intelligence analyst Yaya J. Fanusie, now director of analysis at FDD's Center on Sanctions and Illicit Finance (CSIF), and Alex Joffe, an archaeologist and historian specializing in the Middle East and contemporary international affairs. The report explains how antiquities looting evolved in the region, analyzes how it fits within IS's overall system of territorial control and governance, and identifies strategies to stem the illegal trade. Fanusie and Joffe explain that although antiquities trafficking may not provide IS as much money as other revenue streams like oil smuggling, "the importance of the antiquities trade for IS lies ... in the market's strategic and operational benefits." Excavation sites are unlikely to be targeted by coalition military strikes. Moreover, they note, looting antiquities does not alienate the local population like IS's other common practices of extortion and theft. To capitalize on this strategic resource, IS completely dominates the antiquities trade in the areas under its control, forcing civilians to be licensed by IS before they can dig for artifacts, and takes 20 percent or more of the revenue from any items sold to smugglers, the report finds. The authors note that IS also leverages its plundering for its global propaganda. The group video records choreographed destruction of pre-Islamic heritage sites in Iraq and Syria to portray itself as a defender of religious purity. The authors point out the irony of IS's antiquities trade; the group makes money through end-buyers who mainly come from the U.S. and Europe--representatives of the very societies IS has pledged to destroy. The authors explain that although the precise smuggling routes, middlemen, and buyers are difficult to uncover because of the market's opacity, a review of official trade data shows an uptick in antiques exiting the Levant since the Syrian civil war began. They argue it is likely that much of this increase comes from looted items masqueraded as legally owned artifacts. Details: Washington, DC: Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Center on Sanctions and Illicit Finance, 2015. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 2, 2016 at: http://www.defenddemocracy.org/media-hit/new-report-outlines-ways-to-combat-islamic-states-antiquities-trafficking/ Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.defenddemocracy.org/media-hit/new-report-outlines-ways-to-combat-islamic-states-antiquities-trafficking/ Shelf Number: 137732 Keywords: AntiquitiesArt TheftIllicit TradeIslamic StateLootingTerrorist Financing |
Author: Grantham, David Title: Shutting Down ISIS' Antiquities Trade Summary: The attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, reminded the world that the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria is at war with western civilization. The U.S. government desperately needs a more comprehensive strategy for combating this threat than simply drone warfare and piecemeal deployments of "specialized expeditionary targeting forces." And a top priority of a new, broader campaign should be the destruction of ISIS' financial networks. ISIS and Antiquities. ISIS poses a national security threat to the United States primarily because of the resources it commands. The organization boasts an impressive network of revenue streams, ranging from oil proceeds and racketeering profits to money seized from local banks. But ISIS also profits from its lucrative trade in pilfered Roman, Greek, and other antiquities found in Syria and northern Iraq. This lucrative operation presents a national security dilemma because it helps fund ISIS's international war machine. The U.S. government and international bodies have tried in the past to undermine the global trade in looted antiquities by international conventions that disallow signatory countries from participating in the theft and transportation of looted antiquities. But the illegal antiquities market remains notoriously difficult to regulate. Moreover, officials often treat the illegal antiquities trade as a victimless crime run by criminal organizations. Few acknowledge the definitive links between illegal antiquities and terrorism. The challenges of enforcement and lack of attention keeps the market for illicit antiquities strong. This Is Not a Recent Phenomenon. During World War II, Nazis looted public and private collections from across Europe. Looters reaffirmed the importance of the antiquities market by ransacking regional museums in Iraq in the wake of the First Gulf War. Between the end of the war in 1991, and 1994, eleven museums lost 3,000 artifacts and 484 manuscripts to theft. A majority have yet to be recovered. Years later, the Taliban earned a reputation as a broker of Afghan antiquities, even though it spent enormous time and energy destroying historical landmarks throughout the country. Al Qaeda was also involved in the trade. In 1999, Mohamed Atta, who piloted the plane that crashed into Tower Two of the World Trade Center, tried to sell Afghan antiquities to a German university professor. Atta "claimed that he was selling artifacts in order to purchase an airplane." The Iraqi museums looted after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 only reiterated the national security implications surrounding unprotected antiquities. As of 2008, authorities have only recovered about 6,000 of the 15,000 items stolen. Experts fear that Al-Qaeda offshoots like ISIS are today selling some of the unaccounted for antiquities to fund their terrorist operations. Details: Dallas, TX: National Center for Policy Analysis, 2016. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Brief No. 185: http://www.ncpa.org/pdfs/ib185.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.ncpa.org/pdfs/ib185.pdf Shelf Number: 137760 Keywords: AntiquitiesIllegal TradeISISIslamic StateNational SecurityTerrorismTerrorist Financing |
Author: Association of Chief Police Officers Title: Heritage and Cultural Property Crime: National Policing Strategic Assessment Summary: What is Heritage and Cultural Property Crime? Heritage and cultural property crime can be defined as any offence involving damage or loss to the historic environment, including all offences involving cultural property. Alongside a local policing approach, coordinated by police Safer Neighbourhood Teams, chief police officers are now working directly with Government departments, partner law enforcement agencies and heritage sector professionals to tackle the longer term causes and effects. In this Heritage and Cultural Property Crime National Policing Strategic Assessment, the ACPO led Heritage and Cultural Property Crime Working Group (H&CPCWG) combine a wealth of expertise from members to highlight threats and opportunities to reduce the impact of crime to the historic environment and cultural property. Why be concerned? Amongst a number of other socio-economic and demographic factors, market forces drive acquisitive crime - national crime statistics bear this out. Fluctuations in exchange rates or global commodity prices can, for example, very quickly switch demand for lead, often from historic buildings, to demand for platinum from catalytic converters. Criminals intent on converting metal into cash do not see the damage, loss or heartache they cause to communities, they simply see a commodity that will provide a tax free income or their next drug fix. These thefts are not limited to metal from church roofs or listed buildings; coping stones, floor tiles, slate, intrinsically valuable artefacts and items of intricate metalwork from war memorials are all equally valuable to those operating in the moral vacuum of what we now know as heritage and cultural property crime. In addition to commodity price fluctuation, it is known that anniversaries of significant events in history drive demand for heritage assets. As we approach the centenary of the First World War, law enforcement and heritage sector professionals acknowledge the increasingly likely risk of the theft of memorabilia from museums and battlefields. The vast majority of crimes committed against the historic environment are not intricately planned offences committed by organised criminal gangs - they are committed by individuals or small groups following the path of least resistance to easy cash. A clear example of this can be seen in the theft of Henry Moore's 'Sundial' sculpture from the Henry Moore Foundation in Perry Green, Hertfordshire. In July 2012, it is doubtful that thieves realised the shiny garden ornament they were stealing from a house adjacent to a country lane was a nationally significant work of art worth $500,000 when they later sold it to a Cambridgeshire scrap metal dealer for $46.50. As of 1 October this year, the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 will make offences of this nature less appealing to offenders, who are now unable to sell scrap metal for cash; however, police and other law enforcement professionals must not be complacent in failing to identify new markets available through technological advances in online dealing. The historic environment and cultural property is vulnerable because assets are often located in isolated, sometimes rural localities or are displayed for the public to enjoy. Police officers cannot patrol every neighbourhood for every hour of every day. The delivery of intelligent and efficient law enforcement activity in financially challenging times must, therefore, include a focus on 'Collective efficacy'; law enforcement professionals working with local people and partner agencies to protect heritage assets from theft and damage to the historic environment. In addition to crimes against the historic environment, offenders are also increasingly targeting cultural property, national treasures and works of art displayed in museums, libraries, archives and private collections. A recent and well publicised example of this type of offence is provided by Operation Shrewd, a national inquiry into the theft of rhino horn, jade and Chinese artefacts (predominantly from the early Ming and Qing Dynasties) from provincial museums and private collections in the UK and Europe. As a result of this investigation, it is now known that organised criminal groups have targeted museums providing access to antiquities and artefacts valued at several million pounds. Gone are the days when organised criminal gangs focused on criminal activity such as robbing banks and safety deposit boxes, or importing drugs to further their criminal enterprise. These criminals have now accessed a rich vein of significantly higher return, and with much lower associated risk, directing offences against 'softer' targets to feed the demand from Far Eastern and South East Asian markets for rhino horn and cultural property. Details: London: Association of Chief Police Officers, 2013. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 23, 2016 at: http://www.museumsassociation.org/download?id=1038797 Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.museumsassociation.org/download?id=1038797 Shelf Number: 138791 Keywords: AntiquitiesArt TheftCultural PropertyHeritage CrimeMetal TheftOrganized CrimeProperty TheftScrap Metal |
Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Cultural Property: Protection of Iraqi and Syrian Antiquities Summary: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other groups have seized upon the conflicts in Iraq and Syria to destroy, loot, and traffic cultural property, including antiquities. According to the United Nations (UN), this destruction and looting has reached unprecedented levels. The UN has also reported that since the civil war in Syria began in 2011, ISIS has used the sale of looted Iraqi and Syrian cultural property to generate income to strengthen its capabilities to carry out attacks. Under the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act, signed into law in 1983, and other laws, the United States has restricted the importation of certain, but not all, Iraqi and Syrian cultural property. GAO was asked to examine the protection of Iraqi and Syrian cultural property, including views of art market experts. This report describes (1) activities undertaken by U.S. agencies and the Smithsonian Institution to protect Iraqi and Syrian cultural property since 2011, and (2) art market experts' suggestions for improving U.S. government activities. GAO reviewed documents and interviewed U.S., international, and foreign officials. GAO interviewed a nongeneralizable sample of U.S.-based art market experts representing different categories of the art market to obtain suggestions for potentially improving U.S. government activities. GAO then asked experts to rate the importance of these suggestions and obtained U.S. officials' views on experts' top-rated suggestions. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2016. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-16-673: Accessed August 30, 2016 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/679061.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Iraq URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/679061.pdf Shelf Number: 140094 Keywords: AntiquitiesArt CrimesCultural PropertyISISIslamic StateLooting |
Author: Fay, Emily Victoria Title: Trading in antiquities on eBay: the changing face of the illicit trade in antiquities Summary: The sale of ancient objects on eBay is presented to buyers as legitimate and ethical. However the antiquities trade is a grey market, where both licit and illicit objects are sold (Bowman, 2008). An unknown percentage of illicit antiquities have entered the market as a consequence of archaeological looting. However, antiquities are fungible by nature, meaning that it is very difficult for buyers to differentiate the licit from the illicit. This thesis is based on the premise that the antiquities trade causes harm through the destruction of archaeological knowledge, and therefore there is a necessity to reduce the size of the market. Using Sutton's market reduction approach, the study sets out to collect empirical data on the market from eBay. The thesis considers three main research questions: First, is the current regulatory framework for the sale of antiquities adequate? Second, what is the scale and scope of the market on eBay for antiquities? Third, what are the routine features of the operation of this market? The thesis adopts routine activity theory to investigate the structural elements of the antiquities market, outlining the actors involved in the market, the reasons why antiquities make "suitable targets", and exploring the range of 'capable guardians' who may play a formal or informal role in the surveillance of this market. The data indicates eBay has expanded the size and reach of the antiquities trade, enabling amateurised actors to trade on a global scale. However, the online "frame" (Goffman, 1969) of eBay auctions creates additional challenges through the separation of goods and actors and the fluidity of identity in cyberspace. The thesis ends with an examination of the distal and proximal nodes of governance in online environments and the ideological, definitional, evidentiary, legislative and structural challenges to addressing the illicit antiquities trade at the market end. Details: Keele, UK: Keele University, 2013. 436p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed December 5, 2016 at: http://eprints.keele.ac.uk/197/1/Fay%20PhD%202013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://eprints.keele.ac.uk/197/1/Fay%20PhD%202013.pdf Shelf Number: 140279 Keywords: AntiquesAntiquitiesIllegal MarketsIllegal TradeIllicit Trade |
Author: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies Title: Culture in Crisis: Preserving Cultural Heritage in Conflict Zones Summary: There is nothing new about the looting and destruction of cultural property. The Roman Emperor Titus looted and then razed the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, Napoleon shipped art taken during his conquests back to the Louvre, the Nazis and Soviets emptied museums and private collections, their fellow Americans have looted Native American sites. Even in peacetime, monuments like the Elgin marbles and the Pergamon Altar have found their way into foreign hands, often claiming to provide protection. The monuments and works of art that remain intact and in place from prior civilizations are only those that happened to survive. Twenty-first-century technology has, however, changed the scale and quality of the looting and destruction. When the Islamic State took over a large part of Syria and Iraq in 2014, it organized a massive effort to loot artifacts that could be transported and destroyed what it could of the rest. The objective was two-fold: to demonstrate disdain for the culture that preceded Islam and to enrich the Islamic State's financial resources. Modern technology, including high explosives and earth-moving equipment, and global transportation networks made this possible on a scale not previously attempted. Many thousands of sites were looted and their artifacts sold into a world market, major monuments were destroyed, and many millions of dollars flowed into Islamic State coffers. This appalling contemporary evolution of an age-old practice has attracted a good deal of public attention in the United States, Europe, and beyond. The 2001 Taliban destruction of the Bamian Buddhas and the looting of the Baghdad Museum after the 2004 invasion had sensitized Europeans and Americans, but they were still unprepared for the systematic, high-profile destruction that the Islamic State indulges in. The desire to "do something" was immediate and compelling. What to do is far less clear. That was the issue the Antiquities Coalition raised in December 2015 with six master's students at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) enrolled in a practicum on "cultural racketeering and cleansing." Antiquities Coalition wanted to know about best practices for law and law enforcement in the fight against the illicit antiquities trade, including what is done that works for nature conservation and historical preservation. Could easements or buying land be used to protect archaeological sites? How does the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) compare with the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property? How can the UNESCO Convention be improved and strengthened? For those of us who live and work in the U.S., American government policy is an area of particular concern. Through the use of bilateral agreements, the U.S. has imposed import restrictions on archaeological material from 16 countries, in an effort to reduce the incentive for pillage by discouraging trade in undocumented cultural objects. What effect have these memoranda of understanding had on the antiquities market? On imports into the U.S.? The U.S. has not designated a lead agency for combatting the illicit antiquities trade. Duties currently fall variously to the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, State, Treasury, and others. How can the government develop an internal reporting structure to better address interagency coordination - especially as antiquities trafficking relates to terrorist financing? International peacekeeping forces, whether through the United Nations or other intergovernmental organizations like NATO, could do more to protect cultural resources in times of instability. Have archaeological sites, museums, or other heritage sites ever been included in a peacekeeping mandate? Are there parallels for the protection of natural resources or even similar economic resources? What is the process for inclusion? The SAIS students divvied up these issues and worked through the spring 2016 semester to elucidate them, with guidance from their Antiquities Coalition "client." This small volume contains the results of their work, which was presented both to the Antiquities Coalition and publicly at SAIS in April 2016. We plan some further work in spring 2017 on these and related issues, in a practicum devoted to the broader issue of "Dealing With Extremists." The already ongoing implosion of the Islamic State and its control of territory should not lull us into forgetting the cultural destruction it has wrought. We should do what we can to beef up efforts to counter cultural racketeering and cleansing. The trade will continue with objects already looted and no doubt grow with the next insurgent onslaught. "Never Again" is a motto all too often observed in the breach. There will be a next time. We need to be ready for it. Details: Washington, DC: Johns Hopkins University; and The Antiquities Coalition, 2017. 150p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 14, 2017 at: http://media.wix.com/ugd/b976eb_fd1b6c924a3f4743897d6990327e99d1.pdf Year: 2017 Country: International URL: http://media.wix.com/ugd/b976eb_fd1b6c924a3f4743897d6990327e99d1.pdf Shelf Number: 146167 Keywords: AntiquitiesArchaeological SitesConflict ZonesCultural PropertyExtremist GroupsIslamic StateLootingPillagingTerrorism |
Author: Brodie, Neil Title: How to Control the Internet Market in Antiquities? The Need for Regulation and Monitoring Summary: Illicit antiquities, some pilfered from war zones where jihadist groups operate, are increasingly finding their way online where they are being snapped up by unknowing buyers and further driving the rampant plunder of archaeological sites. These internet sales are spurring a vicious cycle: increasing demand for antiquities, which drives the looting, producing a greater supply of artifacts, which further increases demand. While global auction sales of art and antiquities declined in 2015 - falling as much as 11 percent -online sales skyrocketed by 24 percent, reaching a staggering $3.27 billion dollars. According to Forbes, "This suggests that the art market may not be 1 cooling, exactly, but instead shifting to a new sales model, e-commerce." How can an online buyer guarantee that a potential purchase is not stolen property, a "blood antiquity," or a modern forgery? The best protection is to demand evidence of how the object reached the market in the first place. However, as in more traditional sales, most antiquities on the internet lack any such documentation. Online shoppers therefore have limited means of knowing what they are buying or from whom. This is a particularly serious concern given the industrial scale looting now taking place in Iraq and Syria, which the United Nations Security Council warns is financing Daesh (commonly known as ISIS, ISIL, or Islamic State), al Qaeda, and their affiliates. Despite the clear implications for both cultural preservation and national security, so far public policy has completely failed to regulate the online antiquities trade. This is particularly true in the United States, which remains the world's largest art market and a major center for the internet market in antiquities. American inaction has 3 made it impossible to combat the problem globally, and moreover, is in great contrast to positive steps taken by other "demand" nations like Germany. This paper offers practical solutions to help better protect good faith consumers from purchasing looted or fake antiquities - while also protecting online businesses from facilitating criminal behavior. After briefly reviewing what is known of the organization and operation of the internet market in antiquities, it considers some possible cooperative responses aimed at educating consumers and introducing workable regulation. These responses draw upon the German example, as well as recent criminological thinking about what might constitute effective regulation. Finally, the paper makes seven policy recommendations, which while geared towards the American market, are applicable to any country where antiquities are bought and sold online. Details: Washington, DC: Antiquities Coalition, 2017. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief No. 3: Accessed September 15, 2017 at: http://thinktank.theantiquitiescoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Policy-Brief-3-2017-07-20.pdf Year: 2017 Country: International URL: http://thinktank.theantiquitiescoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Policy-Brief-3-2017-07-20.pdf Shelf Number: 147333 Keywords: Antiquities Cultural Property Heritage Crime Internet CrimeInternet TradeLooting Stolen Property Trafficking in Antiquities |