Art Crime Unit Must Be Independent And Effective

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 5th Mar 2007

Commenting on proposals to slash funding to the Arts and Antiquities Unit of the Metropolitan Police, and to make the Unit 50% self-financing, Liberal Democrat Arts and Culture Spokesman Paul Holmes MP said:

"I have written to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair urging him to reconsider these cuts.

"The proposed commercial sponsorship of the Unit by relevant industries has an obvious potential for conflicts of interest. Surely the policing of the Art trade shouldn't be paid for by the major auction houses whose activities the Unit was established to investigate.

"Today the Government is trying to introduce legislation to clear the way for immunity from seizure of works of art and antiquities loaned to museums and galleries for up to a year.

"Is it not absurd, at such a time, to cut funding and compromise the independence of the only specialist unit dealing with art crime in any of the UK's 43 police forces?

"The UK is home to thirty per cent of total world trade in cultural objects, making London the second-largest art market in the world after New York and an obvious target for those involved in laundering valuable works of art.

"This huge market is policed by just four full-time police officers and three support staff, costing only £350,000. In comparison, the Italian Carabinieri's specialist art crime unit is 250 strong.

"I urge Commissioner Blair to reconsider the proposed cutbacks and restructuring of funding to the Metropolitan Police's Arts and Antiquities Unit to maintain the Unit's independence and effectiveness."