Law, crime and regulation

Cheshire Police has issued CCTV images of two men they would like to speak to in connection with a theft at an antiques centre in Northwich.

Police are alerting the trade and the public to look out for stolen jewellery after a burglary at the Elsecar Heritage Centre in Barnsley.

Two medals awarded to the late artist Charles Tunnicliffe (1901-79) were stolen when The Silk Museum in Macclesfield was burgled earlier this week.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office is investigating a multi-million-pound Asian antiquities ‘trafficking ring’ and has arrested a British antiques restorer as part of the case.

A dozen items deemed national treasures were bought by institutions between May 2018 and April 2020 with a value of £7.6m, according to the latest report.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on extending the near-total ban on the antique ivory trade.

The UK government has confirmed that from July 19 in England many of the coronavirus restrictions will be relaxed.

New VAT rules have been put in place by the European Union for distance selling.

Two paintings stolen from Greece's National Gallery in 2012 have been recovered and a builder has confessed to the crime, according to Reuters.

A group of silver and silver plate items have been stolen from the Cutlers' Hall in Sheffield and police are seeking information on the incident.

A court victory for textile dealer S Franses will have wider implications for rents across the West End of London, experts predict.