Heritage Crime

In partnership with Lincolnshire Police, this small exhibition looks at the growing problem of heritage crime and the battle to control it

Crimes against heritage are a growing problem in the UK.  Whether it is the theft of lead from church roofs, high profile robberies at museums or the illegal use of metal detectors on archaeological sites, our heritage is continually under attack.  To compound the problem, fake archaeologial objects are often found for sale on the internet and from street vendors across the world, conning buyers out of their money and sometimes even misleading experts and museums.

This exhibition, created in partnership with Lincolnshire Police explores some of these issues, and the steps being taken in Lincolnshire to stop them.  The exhibition will also feature material confiscated in a recent high profile court case in which a 'nighthawker' (illegal metal detector user) was prosecuted, and examples of fake antiquities on sale to the public and mistakenly collected by the museum in the past.

Can you tell a fake antiquity from the real thing?  Take part in our free competition and you could win this cute Sherlock Holmes teddy bear!  Collect an entry form from the museum reception desk