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New Bill will target blight of metal thefts in rural areasRural businesses have thrown their weight behind a parliamentary bid to thwart the sale of stolen metal.Soaring prices have seen the theft of metal from farms and rural firms in East Anglia and the East Midlands grow to epidemic proportions over recent months. Overhead cables, copper and even barbed wire and other fencing have been stripped from villages and rural areas for the value of the scrap. In a bid to thwart the thieves, Lancashire MP Graham Jones brought his Metal Theft (Protection) Bill before the House of Commons last month. It is due to have its second reading on January 20. The Private Member's Bill is being supported by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which says it offers a solution to the problem. "Scrap metal is currently big business and it's no longer restricted to the theft of lead from the church roof," said CLA East Director Nicola Currie. "Mr Jones's planned changes to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 and his other proposals are essential if this blight is to be ended quickly and effectively." The Metal (Protection) Bill proposes six changes. It would replace the current registration scheme with a robust licensing regime, with scrap metal dealers paying a fee to fund regulation. Secondly, it would allow property obtained through theft to be regarded as criminal assets – enabling prosecution under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Thirdly, police authorities would be granted the power to search and investigate all premises owned and operated by a scrap metal dealer. They would also be able to close scrap metal dealers where criminally obtained materials had been discovered. Fourthly, the trade in scrap metals would be restricted to cashless payments. Fifthly, magistrates would be granted powers to add licence restrictions and prevent closed yards from reopening. Finally, the Theft Act and related laws would be amended so sentencing would be proportionate to the consequences of the crime, not just the metal value. Mrs Currie added: "Stolen metal is being traded too easily within the scrap metal industry. Hundreds of CLA members have been victims of metal theft, with some losing thousands of pounds repairing and replacing stolen lead and other metals. Thefts from heritage buildings are particularly expensive and time-consuming for owners because the building is made difficult or impossible to insure in the future. "Banning cash sales would prevent anonymous sales because the metal could always be traced back to the person who sold it to the dealer. This is how France, Belgium and parts of the United States have clamped down on metal theft. "Out of the scrap metal industry's £5billion turnover, an estimated £1billion is carried out in cash." CLA East would like to hear from people who have suffered from metal theft to help make its case to Government. Please email the CLA at info.eastern@cla.org.uk or visit the CLA website www.cla.org.uk for more information about the Association. |
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Nicola has a Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Farm Management from the Royal Agricultural College (RAC) and seven years experience as a Tenant Farmer, building up a pedigree dairy herd from scratch. She has also spent time in professional practice in Estate and Farm Management. This background has provided Nicola with a useful grounding to work for the interests of the CLA East region’s farming and rural businesses.
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