06/03/2001
by Dorian Cara

Taking into account the recent agreement between Italy and USA over the import/export of art goods, Gabriuszine has explored the various online services available specialized in gathering information for databanks dedicated to stolen assets.

In the United States Interpol (http://www.stolenart.net) has put an up-to-date database on line which contains information regarding "property of a cultural nature", the ten most wanted works of art world-wide, and the National Stolen Art File: a complete list of missing art objects, for which the minimum value for inclusion is $ 2,000 (€ 2,125). The request for viewing the entire telematic catalogue can only come from an official security agency, while it may only be consulted by police authorities world-wide on written application.

In Europe, there are a number of law enforcement agencies providing services. In Germany the BKAonline Bundeskriminalamt (http://www.bka.de/), in the Fahndung nach Gegenständen section, shows the most important works of art that the German government are attempting to locate.

In France, the O.C.B.C. division, the Central Office against the traffic of cultural assets for the Ministry of the Interior (http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/cadre_fla.html / la police nationale / Direction centrale de la police judiciaire / Les trafics de biens culturels) offers the formidable TREIMA databank, accessible with authorisation from the Headquarters of the National Investigative Police.

In Austria, in order to gain access to the police information system regarding stolen works of art, called EKIS, you need to go to the link provided by Criminal Investigations at the Department of Justice (http://ln-inter1.bmi.gv.at/web/bmiwebp.nsf/AllPages/KP000131000231).

Switzerland with the UFC, the Federal Cultural Office, (http://www.kultur-schweiz.admin.ch/arkgt/ar/f_ar_i.htm), in addition to a selection concerning works stolen during the Second World War, provides legal information on its site regarding Swiss regulations and assistance from experts in the field of cultural assets.

Great Britain and Scotland Yard offer an extremely extensive database concerned primarily with national assets. It is available for viewing at the official site link: (http://www.met.police.uk/mps/mis/art.htm).

In Spain the Grupo de Patrimonio Histórico of the National Guard together with the Investigative Police Headquarters are developing a databank project, GRASP, using the Windows Access program, in which a good part of the stolen works of art from the entire Iberian territory will be stored and available for viewing.

One of the most extensive in Europe is provided by Italy, put together by the Carabinieri's Cultural Heritage Protection Unit (T.P.A.) (http://www.carabinieri.it/tpa/tpa.asp), in association with the provincial Commands of the Army, the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities, local police headquarters, the Financial Police, customs offices, Interpol, OIPC (the Central Department of Criminal Investigations) (http://www.mininterno.it/dip_ps/dcpc/pag2.htm), and, in the near future, with the Export Offices of the Ministry. The invaluable T.P.A databank, continuously updated with information regarding relevant crimes, artistic assets and the people involved, investigative data, consists of an inventory of around 440,000 objects, 30,000 thefts and 100,000 photographs.