Closed petition Make it a specific offence to cause criminal damage to works of art or artefacts

Closed on 18 April 2023

The Government should introduce a specific offence for those that destroy, deface, or attempt to damage the exhibits of museums and galleries. This offence should have harsher minimum and maximum sentences than the offence of criminal damage.

Those that damage important art and artefacts are committing the barbaric act of destroying pieces of human history, aside from simple criminal damage. Art and other exhibitions provide the public with beauty, education, and a sense of place. In light of the recent incidents in the UK and across the world, the Government should take action to try and prevent copycat incidents, and to ensure that anyone that sees fit to be so destructive is punished appropriately.