Must Go Further to End Metal Theft

 

Rebecca, Lee - Sandycroft, Tony - local roofer, Mike Chawner - Matchborough West Community Group, Cllr Bill Hartnett, local resident - Mrs Cook, Harriet Harman MP at Woodrow Community Centre

 

After another spate of lead theft in Woodrow Centre and residents having their catalytic convertors stolen, Rebecca Blake, Labour's Parliamentary Spokesperson is calling again on the Government to go further to tackle metal theft in Redditch which can be extremely dangerous and is damaging the economy.

 

"I asked Harriet Harman, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party to come and speak to people who have been a victim of lead theft in particular and see how Redditch is being affected.

 

Metal theft is becoming an epidemic, and urgent action is needed to stop this getting even further out of control. The government should change the law to make it easier stop this illegal trade which is often organised crime.

 

Rebecca Blake is backing Labour’s four point plan to tackle Metal theft – which is also supported by British Transport Police, Association of Chief Police Officers & by the Neighbourhood Watch.

 

 1. Licensing scrap metal dealers, rather than current registration with Local Authority.

 

2. Move to ban cash transactions especially for large scale/high value scrap metal transactions.

 

 3. Tougher police powers to close rogue traders down.

 

 4. Anyone selling scrap to provide proof of identity, recorded at point of sale.

 

Rebecca stated “This Government needs to go further if it is to effectively tackle the growing crime of metal theft.  In 2011 Redditch saw 177 incidents of lead theft, a rise on the previous year.  In less than 4 months we saw 350 drain covers stolen, this is extremely dangerous and costly and we cannot stand by while the price of scrap metal goes up and metal thefts increase".

 

The Government is moving to stop cash payments to purchase scrap metal and increase fines for those that are found guilty - something I raised last year and welcome.  However, without giving the police the power of entry and the ability to shut down rogue scrap metal yards, the Government runs the risk of making the situation worse and not better.

 

Banning cash transactions in itself will not solve the problem, while legitimate scrap yards will go cashless, some yards may continue to take cash and continue a black market.

 

“Labour is calling for tougher powers for the police to close these rogue traders down. Currently the police cannot enter a yard and close it down – so the Government’s plan won’t achieve what it is setting out to do.

 

People that are selling scrap metal should also have to provide proof of identity at point of sale and the metal dealers should be properly licensed, a voluntary scheme is not good enough".

 

More info from the Redditch Standard