Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will issue guidance to parish churches on securing their buildings in the context of recent trends in the number of thefts from churches.
The Home Office does not hold figures for thefts from churches; however, the Crime Survey for England and Wales for year ending June 2023 shows that overall theft since March 2010 has reduced by 47%.
Historic England publishes guidance and advice for churches and other historic buildings and places on how to prevent crime, published here: Preventing Heritage Crime | Historic England.
Historic England also operates the Heritage Crime Programme, which includes Heritage Watch, to enable members of the public to help protect heritage sites in their local communities Home - Heritage Watch.
In addition, crime prevention advice is published by Secured By Design, the police security initiative, including advice on how to improve the security of buildings and their surroundings, here: Secured by Design - Secured by Design.