Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reports of disturbances to military wrecks designated as protected sites under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 were received by the Ministry of Defence Police in each of the last six years.
Harriett Baldwin
The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) has carried out the following investigations (taking “disturbances” to mean thefts or alleged thefts and not limited to shipwrecks) under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986:
|
YEAR |
|
|
2010 |
1 |
|
2011 |
6 |
|
2012 |
1 |
|
2013 |
0 |
|
2014 |
0 |
|
2015 |
1 |
The MDP has not received any information related to the illegal salvage of material from HMS Warrior.
By invoking the principle of Sovereign Immunity, and by designating specific vessels under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 and the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986, we endeavour to protect these important sites where we are able. Where we have definitive evidence of desecration of these sites, we will take appropriate action. However, it should be appreciated that, given the large number of Royal Navy wrecks around the world and the vast area they cover, there are limitations on what can be achieved with regard to protection.
