A WARNING has been issued for a list of offences against heritage assets and sites across the country.

According to police, heritage crime is any offence which harms the value of England's heritage assets and their settings - now and for future generations.

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Heritage assets are sites considered to have a value to the heritage of England include listed buildings, scheduled monuments, world heritage sites, protected marine wreck sites, conservation areas, registered parks and gardens, registered battlefields, protected military remains of aircraft and vessels, and undesignated - but acknowledged - heritage buildings and sites.

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A Dorset Police spokesman said: "Examples of heritage crimes you can report include architectural theft - in particular metal and stone, criminal damage including arson, unlawful metal detecting - also known as ‘nighthawking’, unlawful disturbance and salvage of maritime sites, and unauthorised work to heritage assets.

"Some of these heritage assets are protected by specific criminal offences to prevent harm caused by damage and unlicensed alteration.

"Other crimes such as theft, criminal damage, arson and anti-social behaviour offences can damage and harm heritage assets and interfere with the public's enjoyment and knowledge of heritage assets."

For more visit, www.dorset.police.uk/ruralcrime If you witness any criminal activity/suspicious behaviour taking place at a heritage site, you should report this to Dorset Police. You can report by calling 999 for a crime in progress, call 101 for all non-emergency reports or an email to 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or if you wish to report anything anonymously please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 #HeritageCrime #RuralCrime #RuralCrimeMatters #PCSO6386