Tackling metal theft

It has been bought to Conor’s attention that in the three months from September to December 2011 The Bourne Academy was the victim of the theft on three separate occasions, with thieves stealing lead from the building.

The total to repair and replace the stolen lead with a non lead substitute currently stands at £46,521.60.

The Government recognises the serious impact metal theft can have on both national infrastructure and on local communities. In particular, they have expressed their disgust at the theft of metal from public buildings such as schools and churches and war memorials. The Prime Minister has quite rightly condemned such crimes.

The Government is taking urgent steps to address the growing problem of metal theft with the Home Office discussing with other Departments what legislative changes are necessary to assist enforcement agencies and deter offenders, including introducing a new licence regime for scrap metal dealers and prohibiting cash payments. It is also working with the Association of Chief Police Officers to establish a dedicated metal theft taskforce.

Commenting, Conor has said: “I can assure you that the Government is taking this issue seriously and will continue to explore with law enforcement agencies and the industry, what other action can be taken to reduce metal theft.

“For my part, I have already taken steps to meet the local police force to see if it is possible to us to follow the lead of police in the north-east who are asking scrap dealers to sign up to a voluntary code that means they must demand at least two forms of proper identification from those who turn up at their yards to sell metal in order to establish where the metal has originated from.

“I firmly believe that the best way to address this matter is through a concerted effort from both police and Parliament. It has been acknowledge by the minister responsible, Lord Henley, that current legislation is clearly past its sell-by date and that he is currently looking at how it can be updated.

“It is my firm hope that we can significantly reduce this kind of crime in Bournemouth and Poole.”