ArtBeat hits the streets

The Metropolitan Police undertook its first full operational deployment in London’s art market this week, raising awareness about antiques looted from the Afghanistan National Museum in Kabul.

Codenamed Operation Syenite, London’s art dealers, auction houses, museums and collectors will be warned by the Met’s ‘ArtBeat’ special constables about the historic and culturally significant items, which are banned from export or sale under Afghan legislation. The Operation will run throughout October and November. Officers received hands-on training in how to identify Afghani cultural property at The British Museum.

The Art and Antiques Unit at the Met has already recovered thousands of items that are currently awaiting their return to Afghanistan.

As Operation Syenite develops, the Met’s Art and Antiques Unit hopes to see an increased intelligence flow on the movements of these items. If the industry doesn’t heed officers’ warnings about purchasing such items, then specific intelligence-led operations will be considered.

Detective Sergeant Vernon Rapley from the Met’s Art and Antiques Unit said: “ArtBeat was a project designed to utilise expert skills in the fight against cultural property crime in London. We are delighted to be able to put ArtBeat operational deployment into action and see the London art market truly benefit from these specialists’ experience.”