Stephen
Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has today welcomed new
figures which reveal that the Government’s efforts to reduce metal theft are
showing early signs of success.
Metal
theft fell every quarter over the last year – and by 40 per cent overall in
2012–13. This coincides with tough new measures introduced by the Government to
clamp down on the offence which causes distress and disruption to the public.
Last
December the Government tightened the net around rogue sellers by:
- Banning
all scrap metal dealers from trading in cash.
- Ending
the practice of ‘no questions asked’ cash payments.
- Giving
the police powers of entry to tackle illegal trading in metal yards.
On
top of this, the Government established a National Metal Theft Taskforce to
focus enforcement activity, and backed a new law introduced by Conservatives in
Parliament which will:
- Require
scrap metal dealers to be licensed.
- Allow
councils to refuse or revoke licences if a dealer is deemed unsuitable.
- Give
magistrates the power to issue rogue traders with fines of up to £5,000.
These powers under the Scrap Metal Act 2013 came into full effect on Sunday (1 December).
Mr
Metcalfe commented: “Metal theft has a huge impact and costs the economy around
£220 million a year. This crime affects everyone – from the stealing of
cables that delay your rail journey home to the shocking theft of war
memorials.”
“That
is why the Government has tightened the net around rogue sellers and funded a
new taskforce to crack down on metal theft. And from this weekend it will
be illegal for people to trade in scrap metal without a licence.”
“We
are on the side of people who play by the rules and are sending a strong message
to rogue dealers – you will be caught.”
