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Protection and prevention
What is illicit?
Illicit activity regarding cultural objects includes the traffic in items unlawfully removed from archaeological sites or monuments; objects stolen from their rightful owners such as private individuals or a public collection; and the illegal export of an object. Activities such as these are criminal offences in the UK under the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003 (see Legislation), the Theft Act 1968 and the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979; and the UK's export regulations. An activity is illicit if it contravenes the law in the UK or any other country or territory. Further information is provided in Factsheet Legislation.
Why prevent illicit activity?
The illicit traffic in cultural property damages our knowledge of the past; it costs money and harms reputations; it robs people of their history and identity. It is in all our interests to comply with the law in this area and to act within ethical guidelines (see codes of ethics).
What checks must I make when buying an object?
There are simple checks that should be made prior to and during the purchase of an object so that the transaction can be recorded and traced in the future if necessary. Checklist Buying with confidence provides guidance on this area. Further information is available in the Buying with confidence section of this site. Buyers must also be confident that an object to be purchased has a certain provenance between 1933 and 1945 where particular issues of ownership arise as a result of the looting that took place in the Second World War and Holocaust Era.
How do I protect objects from theft?
Keeping a record of cultural objects is a sensible measure for their protection. Such documentation should be kept safely away from the object and include a photograph and a short description. The Metropolitan Police Crime Prevention pages on art and antiques provide more detailed advice on this as will your professional trade association (Factsheet Professional trade associations). Factsheet Databases of stolen art describes a number of databases of stolen art against which an object can be checked prior to purchase.
A number of companies offer marking systems for everyday objects which can help to trace them if stolen. Factsheet Marking systems provides further information. Collection Link's Take Care of Security pages are also useful in this context.
What do I do to conserve objects?
The Conservation Register provides a list of conservation professionals in your area. The Collections Link website provides links to further information and resources.
