Online form for reporting crimes at heritage sites

Dorset Police said the county was home to more than 10,000 listed buildings, scheduled monuments and protected wrecks

A police force has launched an online form for people to report offences on or around the county's heritage sites.

Dorset Police said the initiative, called Heritage Watch, would help protect the county's historic sites from crime and anti-social behaviour.

The force said heritage crime could be any offence that directly harms a listed building, scheduled monument, world heritage site or protected wreck.

Sgt Ian Arnold said it would help "gather intelligence and bring those who are intent on causing harm to our historical sites to justice".

"Dorset is home to over 10,000 listed buildings, scheduled monuments, world heritage sites and protected wrecks that are often thousands of years old," Mr Arnold said.

"This new way of reporting will mean that our communities can get together and help us protect our heritage sites.

"You can also sign up to Dorset Alert and enable heritage crime notifications to be alerted to any local heritage crimes near you."

He added that in addition to reporting the crime via the police website, anyone who was unsure if the crime had been committed on a historic site could confirm through Historic England.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said he looked forward to seeing "what achievements and successes Heritage Watch will make over the coming months and years".