Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback Edited Legal Collections Data

Andrew Hardy, Samuel --- "Criminological perspectives on heritage crime" [2019] ELECD 3000; in Mitsilegas, Valsamis; Hufnagel, Saskia; Moiseienko, Anton (eds), "Research Handbook on Transnational Crime" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019) 383

Book Title: Research Handbook on Transnational Crime

Editor(s): Mitsilegas, Valsamis; Hufnagel, Saskia; Moiseienko, Anton

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Section: Chapter 27

Section Title: Criminological perspectives on heritage crime

Author(s): Andrew Hardy, Samuel

Number of pages: 20

Abstract/Description:

Popular understanding of heritage crime has been distorted by popular culture and sensationalist media. It has also been distorted by expert analysis that either overplays or underplays certain aspects, both of which are done in order to make state and society take the problem seriously. Nonetheless, such distortions may be significantly reduced, through open-source analysis of publicly accessible evidence. Open-source research demonstrates how, around the world, cultural property is being subjected to looting-to-order/theft-to-order, multi-commodity trafficking and online trafficking; exploited by organised crime; and exploited for money-laundering and conflict financing/terrorist financing. Organised cultural property crime, for instance, has been documented from Mexico to Russia to Turkey. Thus, empirical analysis and systematic review may provide evidence of the functioning of the illicit trade, drive intelligence-led policing and determine potential approaches to reducing harm, thereby increasing the interception of illicit goods, the disruption of supply lines and the deterrence of potential participants.