Could you be a Heritage and Culture Volunteer?

The Heritage Watch scheme sees volunteers work with us to help protect historical sites, monuments, and artefacts across our three counties from heritage related crime. 

West Mercia Police currently has several Heritage Watch volunteers who work within their community to protect sites with cultural significance from crime and report on activity that gives reason for concern.  

Bill Matthews has been one of our Heritage Watch volunteers for North Worcestershire for two years.  

As part of his role, Bill undertakes visits to places within the community to meet with representatives of culturally or historically significant sites.  

He will sign up places such as listed buildings, churches or museums to Heritage Watch and offer crime prevention advice, and tailored information that can help to protect these sites. Those who sign also become part of our We Don’t Buy Crime scheme.  

As part of the scheme members are each given their own SmartWater pack, which contains a property marking solution that should be applied to valuable items. The solution is an invisible water-based liquid that contains a code only assigned to that unique SmartWater kit, making it easier to return items if stolen. 

Along with the property marking solution, We Don’t Buy Crime and Heritage Watch signage will be displayed around the site boundary, warning potential criminals that the area is protected. 

By working with community members and local policing teams, Heritage Watch volunteers play an active role towards reducing crime and disorder issues that impact our heritage sites and those who take care for them. 

West Mercia Police is currently advertising for Heritage and Culture Volunteers across our three counties. You can read the full job profile role here: Heritage and Culture Volunteer - West Mercia Police (tal.net) 

Joining Heritage Watch as a volunteer, you would belong to a team of likeminded people working together to preserve the places of significance that matter most to your community.  

A good way to stay in touch with what’s going on in your community is to sign up to Neighbourhood Matters | West Mercia Police . 

Or if you would like to sign up a heritage site you are a part of to the scheme, please email [email protected]. 

Issued by EL, Corporate Communications.