Two British teenagers have been arrested by Polish police after they reportedly took personal items belonging to concentration camp victims while visiting Auschwitz.

The two boys, both 17-years-old, who have not been named but are pupils of the private The Perse School in Cambridge, were allegedly found by museum security guards with a number of items reportedly in their backpacks.

A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed the arrest of two nationals in Poland yesterday to The Independent. They added: “We are in contact with the Polish authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance.”

Malopolska police deputy inspector Mariusz Ciarka told the Krakow Gazette that the two boys, who were interrogated with the help of translators by local police, maintain their innocence.

The Britons face up to ten years in prison if found guilty of the alleged crime.

The boys are understood have been on a school history trip. A statement from the Perse School said the pupils "attempted to keep some items of historical importance which they had found on the ground."

"We understand they have explained that they picked up the items without thinking, and they have apologised unreservedly for the offence they have given, and expressed real remorse for their action," the Perse School's spokesman added.

They remain in custody and, according to local newspapers, have been questioned in connection with misappropriation of objects that are artefacts of special cultural significance.

Hair clippers, a spoon shard, buttons and two fragments from glasses are said to be among the items missing.

It is believed that the boys found the items on the ground near the ‘Canada’ section of the camp, where items stolen from the prisoners would be housed. Following the camp’s liberation, the warehouses were torched by guards but rainfall often brings small – once buried – objects up to the surface.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Show all 20 1 /20 Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau The main gate entering the Nazi Auschwitz death camp Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau A warning sign is seen in front of a watch tower of the former Auschwitz concentration camp held by the Nazis in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Visitors walk between barbed wire fences at the Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Guard towers and barbed wire fences stand at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp on the night prior to commemoration events marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the camp on 26 January 2015 in Oswiecim, Poland Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Holocaust survivor Mordechai Ronen (C) from the US is comforted by his son as he is overcome by emotion standing next to President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder (2nd R) as he arrives at the former Auschwitz concentration camp in Oswiecim on 26 January 2015 Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Auschwitz and Belsen concentration camp survivor Eva Behar shows her number tattoo in her home in London Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau A wall with historic photos is pictured at the memorial site of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim, Poland Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau A general view of the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau The 'wall of death' at the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau General view of wooden bunks inside a destroyed barracks at the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau near Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau View of the barracks of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau View of the barracks of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Empty Zyklon B canisters are displayed at the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Prosthetic limbs confiscated from Auschwitz prisoners lie in an exhibtion display at the former Auschwitz I concentration camp, which today is a museum, in Oswiecim, Poland Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Eyeglasses confiscated from Auschwitz prisoners lie in an exhibtion display at the former Auschwitz I concentration camp, which today is a museum, in Oswiecim, Poland Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Children's shoes confiscated from Auschwitz prisoners lie in an exhibtion display at the former Auschwitz I concentration camp, which today is a museum, in Oswiecim, Poland Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Suitcases confiscated from Auschwitz prisoners Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Enamel bowls used by Auschwitz prisoners Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau Visitor are seen walking behind barbed-wire fences at the memorial site of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oswiecim Holocaust Memorial Day 2015: Haunting images of Auschwitz Auschwitz-Birkenau A cargo wagon is parked at the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau near Oswiecim

Deputy inspector Ciarka claimed that neither boy appeared aware of the gravity of the alleged offence.

The chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust Karen Pollock told The Independent that the boys’ alleged actions were “absolutely shocking” and demonstrated a “gross disregard to the memory of the Holocaust.”

In a statement, Ms Pollock said: “We have a duty to educate the next generation to prevent ignorance and hate, and in over 15 years of organising for thousands of British teenagers to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, we have never known of such an incident.”

She added that her organisation would “gladly” work with the pupils to “ensure they understand the implications of their actions”.

Auschwitz was one of the first camps established by the Nazis. It would later expand to become the extermination and concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

More than million people, mostly European Jews, were systematically murdered on the site.

Following its liberation, the site became a powerful symbol of the horrors of the Nazi regime and of the Holocaust. In later years was turned into a museum and attracted 1,400,000 visitors last year.