Artbeat: Antiquities from Afghanistan in London

Special Constables from "Artbeat" will be visiting auction houses, dealers, galleries and museums in London to alert them to the issue of stolen antiquities from Afghanistan ("Police to clamp down on trade in looted Afghan art", Daily Telegraph, October 21, 2008). This is part of the Metropolitan Police's Operation Syenite. The report concluced:

Detective Sergeant Vernon Rapley from the Met's Art and Antiques Unit added: "The message is clear, do not purchase any Afghan antiquities without clear title and established provenance."

Indeed it could be well said: do not purchase or handle any antiquities without clear title and established provenance.