Wiltshire churches have said they are beefing up security after a spate of burglaries

Churches in Great Britain were targeted

Wiltshire churches are being urged to beef up security after a series of incidents across the UK.

It comes from specialist insurer Ecclesiastical, after a spate of church thefts, which are strongly advising churches to review their security arrangements.

Items such as silver plates, chalices and other items used for communion were stolen.

Helen Richards, director of church operations at Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Theft from church buildings can have a heartbreaking impact, both on volunteers and the congregation who give their time to worship at the church, but also on the potential loss of heritage. .

“Unfortunately, we are seeing more incidents where churches are being targeted, with items such as silver, cash, statues, furniture and even paving stones being stolen. Although many of these items have limited financial value, they are irreplaceable and the emotional impact of that loss can be devastating.”

A report by Historic England and the National Police Chief’s Council, published earlier this year, highlighted the increased risk of opportunistic criminals and organized crime gangs targeting valuable heritage materials and cultural objects as inflation continues to affect the price of goods.

Mrs Richards added: “There is a real risk that the economic challenges in the UK and the high value of silver will see an increase in thefts from historic buildings such as churches, so we are urging churches across the country to take steps to protect themselves and follow our guidelines which are available on our website.

We still want churches to be open during the day for communities, congregations and potential visitors, but we all need to be aware of the risks. It is extremely important that churches follow our risk management advice to protect themselves. Our team of experts are available to support customers and can be contacted on 0345 777 3322.”

The specialist insurer’s risk management team advises churches to take the following steps:

• Keep your church safe: At night, lock your church doors, windows, and any outside gates. Installing security lights and keeping the exterior well-lit can deter trespassers and applying anti-climb paint. Also consider installing burglar alarms and CCTV, all remotely monitored by an alarm receiving center that can alert the church in the event of an incident.

• Report suspicious activity and encourage use of church buildings: Use the building as much as possible for church and community activities. Occupied and regularly used buildings may be less vulnerable to attack.

• Practice good housekeeping: keep interior doors closed and locked when not in use, put any valuables in secure safes, remove any equipment that could be used to access the church – such as ladders used for maintenance.

• Carry out regular external inspections of your church buildings and grounds: Check your buildings regularly and report any criminal damage to the police and your insurers as soon as possible. Trim back vegetation regularly so the building can be seen by passers-by who might notice suspicious activity.

• Immediately repair any criminal damage to the church building: A damaged building is at risk of further attacks, including arson. Make sure any graffiti or other signs of anti-social behavior are removed quickly.

• Report the theft to the police and your insurer: If the worst happens, make sure you report the theft to the police so they can visit and collect forensic evidence to support any investigation. It is also important to notify the insurer so they can help process the claim.

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