The government has published new guidelines for the heritage industry following increased concern regarding the trade in illicit cultural property.

Currently, legitimate art sales in Britain are worth around £4.2bn a year, but according to culture minister David Lammy, it is impossible to assess the size of the illicit trade market.

“These guidelines will give museums, galleries and archives access to the advice which will ensure that they can continue to expand their collections safe in the knowledge that they are doing so ethically,” he said.

The new guidelines are available to download from www.culture.gov.uk /global/publications