Art thieves attempting to sell the haul stolen from York City Art Gallery could be stopped by new rules introduced today.

The Council for the Prevention of Art Theft has joined forces with the Association of Chief Police Officers to urge art dealers to make stringent checks on the origins of artwork being sold to them.

It is hoped the voluntary code of practice will help slash the rising amount of theft affecting the art world.

The launch of the new Due Dilligence Codes in London today follows North Yorkshire Police's recent circulation of a catalogue showing 20 paintings which were ripped from their frames in York City Art Gallery in January.

Armed robbers bound staff at gun point before taking the pictures, which included Turner's Rievaulx Abbey.

None of the pictures have yet been recovered, despite a £25,000 for their recovery. It is hoped encouraging extra diligence from dealers could increase the chances of their return.

The code of practice recommends checks including customer details, looking at stolen property registers and being on the lookout for people asking for prices less than works are worth.

York City Art Gallery curator Richard Green said: "Any reputable dealer should have been following these points anyway, but if they are observed scrupulously across the board then it should diminish the potential market for looted art.

"We also need to get the message across to potential criminals that there is no market for stolen art. Personally I hope the criminals who targeted York City Art Gallery do try to off load the art because that way it may come to light.

"If everybody stuck to these rules it should make it impossible for thieves to get cash from stolen art."

Click here for a list of the stolen paintings

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