In Scotland, the SNP’s Cabinet Secretary for Justice has seen the effects of metal theft for himself when he attended Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital where a plant room was broken in to – putting patient care at risk.
Pat Wynne, Chief Nurse, Western General Hospital, NHS Lothian said: “Anything taken from our hospitals represents money which is taken away from front-line patient care.
“As this has a financial cost, thefts can have an indirect and direct affect on patients for example in services such as heating and water supply. If contingency plans had not been in place this theft could have resulted in significant disruption to utility services at the Western General Hospital. In addition to affecting the working of the hospital this was an extremely dangerous act as the thieves stole parts of working equipment.”
Kenny MacAskill’s visit came at the conclusion of Operation Caraway – a fortnight of activity by all 14 divisions of Police Scotland and British Transport Police (BTP) – targeting thieves who steal metal.
Chief Superintendent Ellie Bird, area commander for the Scotland area of BTP and chair of Metal Theft (Scotland) added: “Metal thieves are still trying to disrupt everyday life. Whether it’s putting hospital patients at risk, delaying commuters or causing power outages by breaking in to electricity sub-stations. Our joint efforts to thwart these activities will see no let up and the results of Operation Caraway underline just how serious the issue is regarded by the police, Scottish Government and other partner organisations.”
And Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill added: “Metal theft is a far from victimless crime. Recent incidents like the one affecting this hospital prove that the consequences can be dangerous, disruptive and deeply distressing for the individuals and communities involved.
“The Scottish Government is determined to tackle the scourge of metal theft wherever we can and we will include tough new provisions in the forthcoming Licensing Bill. Measures may include ensuring the licensing of all scrap metal dealers and the end of cash payments.
“These new powers will give our enforcement agencies, including British Transport Police and Police Scotland, more powers to detect metal thieves. The tougher prosecution policy of the Crown Office will also mean the perpetrators face severe penalties.
“Ultimately, these measures will act as a real deterrent, making Scotland a hostile place for metal thieves.”
Superintendent Alan Cunningham, Safer Communities, Police Scotland said: “Around a thousand vehicles were stopped during Operation Caraway, which ran from 23 August to 6 September 2013. In addition, nearly a hundred containers were checked at the port of Grangemouth. This demonstrates our determination to disrupt and detect thieves, intent on stealing metal.”
The authorities report that during the two-week national initiative officers immediately seized 15 vehicles and visited 48 scrap metal dealers. Some 200 people will be reported to the local Procurator Fiscal for road traffic offences. Enquiries are continuing after break-ins at electricity sub-stations at Stirling, Alloa, Hamilton and Ayr and lead has been stolen from the roof of a church in Netherlee and that of historical Pollok House in Glasgow.
Pictured: a Glasgow street scene; a metal grille over a city centre window.
