Devon police help create new guidance to help protect historic UK shipwrecks

New guidance aimed at helping law enforcement agencies tackle heritage crime at sea has been launched with input from a Plymouth university and a Devon and Cornwall police officer.

Historic England and the University of Plymouth have produced the Common Enforcement Manual for Heritage Crime at Sea, which provides advice and procedures to help authorities detect and respond to suspected crimes involving historic shipwrecks.

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The guidance includes legal advice and protocols for observing, investigating and intercepting vessels suspected of illegal activity, as well as outlining communication procedures between organisations involved in maritime enforcement.

Devon & Cornwall Police Rural Affairs Sergeant Julian Fry contributed to the policing section of the manual and attended its official launch at Historic England’s headquarters in London on 19 February.

Sgt Fry is the Heritage Crime Tactical Lead for Devon & Cornwall Police and the national police tactical lead for Operation Birdie, which targets the illegal salvage or disturbance of protected shipwrecks.

He said the new guidance would help officers better protect historic sites on the seabed.

“The new Common Enforcement Manual will be a game-changer,” he said.

“It provides clear and easy-to-use guidance that will help to ensure our maritime heritage sites are properly protected.”

ABOVE: Sgt Jules Fry with key partners involved in producing the CEM (Image: D&C Police)

There are 57 nationally important protected shipwrecks around the coast of England, including 21 off the coasts of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Because these wrecks lie underwater, monitoring them can be challenging, with authorities saying that when suspicious activity is detected, enforcement teams must be able to act quickly.

While most divers follow the law, officials say some have removed artefacts or failed to comply with legal requirements, causing damage to historic wreck sites.

Sgt Fry pointed to a recent example involving the wreck of the HMS Coronation, which sank off Rame Head in 1691.

“Last year, the HMS Coronation, which went down off Rame Head, Cornwall in 1691, and was added to the Protection of Wrecks Act in 1978, was subject to potential damage after a series of lobster pots were found on the wreck,” he said.

“Preservation of nationally important heritage sites is essential and this pioneering manual will help us extend protection for underwater heritage sites for years to come.”

Examples of protected wreck sites in Devon include locations in the Erme Estuary in the South Hams, the Cattewater in Plymouth, and wrecks near Westward Ho! and Northam Burrows.

Mark Harrison, Head of Heritage Crime at Historic England, said the manual would help improve coordination between agencies.

“Responding to heritage crime at sea requires swift action, clear procedures and the secure preservation of evidence,” he said.

“By strengthening awareness and coordination among the law enforcement agencies patrolling England’s waters, we are enhancing our collective ability to identify offenders, secure crime scenes, and protect historic wreck sites.”

The organisations involved say the guide will be shared with agencies including police, coastguard, border force and the Ministry of Defence to help safeguard underwater heritage sites.