Tendring District Council (TDC) has teamed up with Historic England and Essex Police to help protect the district’s incredible heritage for generations to come.

To mark Antisocial Behaviour Week (30 June – 6 July), the council announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Historic England, signalling the start of a new partnership focused on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour that threatens our historic sites.

With over 1,000 heritage locations across Tendring, this agreement is a big step in keeping our local history safe and celebrated.

Joining the signing event alongside Councillor Peter Kotz, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Assets and Community Safety, were Mark Harrison, Historic England’s Head of Heritage Crime, and Essex Police Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Nolan, who also leads nationally on heritage crime.

Both expressed their excitement about working closely with the Council and praised the involvement of local police cadets, who will be helping to protect and promote our heritage.

“This is about more than just protecting buildings,” said Councillor Kotz.

“It’s about valuing our past, supporting our communities, and making sure future generations can enjoy the stories and places that make Tendring special.”

The memorandum is part of a wider national effort supported by police, prosecutors, and local authorities to crack down on crimes that damage historic sites. It encourages joint working, better reporting, and stronger enforcement.

Tendring’s Community Safety and Enforcement teams already work hand-in-hand with Essex Police, carrying out joint patrols and responding to incidents.

They also collaborate with the Marine Unit, Coastguard, and RNLI to keep our coastline and events safe.

Mr Harrison said: “We welcome our colleagues from Tendring District Council as signatories to the memorandum.

“Since the signing of the original memorandum in 2011, significant progress has been made to prevent and investigate crime and anti-social behaviour affecting the historic environment.

“This progress has been made possible by the development of a robust, committed and effective partnership between Historic England, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Crown Prosecution Service and the thousands of people who own and care for our historic buildings and archaeological sites.”

Protecting our heritage is a key part of Our Vision, the TDC’s Corporate Plan, which aims to celebrate our local environment and attract more visitors to the area.

“This partnership is a great example of how working together can make a real difference,” added Councillor Kotz.

“We’re proud to be playing our part in protecting what makes Tendring unique.”