As part of their work to tackle the issue of metal theft, police in Somerset have been meeting with local church groups to help combat the theft of lead. Estimated to cost the UK about £1billion a year, metal theft is police point out increasing nationally due to the global rise in metal prices.
The first meeting was held at The Old Deanery in Wells on Tuesday, July 31. Called by neighbourhood officers from Avon and Somerset Police, supported by officers from the force and regional Operation Tornado team and the Diocese of Bath & Wells, members of the Mendip beat team gave presentations to representatives of some 40 churches in the Somerset area.
The meeting was called as part of the forcey’s work to tackle metal theft and in direct response to four recent incidents of theft from churches in the Mendip area.
Nick Denison, Diocesan Secretary, said: “The theft of metal from churches, and particularly the theft of lead from church roofs, is a very serious problem for us. Sometimes the theft can go un-noticed for several days; often the first sign that the lead has gone is water dripping through the roof, with all the resultant damage that can be caused to the fabric of the building.
“The police recognise that the theft of metal from churches is a crime which affects the whole community and we are grateful that they are so resolved to catch and prosecute those responsible.”
At the event, presentations were given by PC Stephen Whatley, the officer dealing with the recent local thefts, Crime Reduction Officer Yvonne Mears and Paul Playford from the church insurer Ecclesiastical Insurance Group (EIG).
Crime prevention methods, insurance issues and potential changes to legislation were covered during the morning and a question and answer session was also held for members of the local churches to pose questions to the Deanery, police and EIG.
PC Whatley said: “Theft of lead from churches is a major issue, which is causing untold distress to communities across the country. These thieves are striking at the very heart of our communities and in some cases are causing irreparable damage to some of our most beautiful heritage buildings.”
Members of the local beat team and the HQ Operation Tornado team also provided the group with updates as to recent and forthcoming proactive work the force is undertaking to help combat metal theft.
Operation Tornado is a national scheme, launched in the South West in June, providing cross-border collaboration between Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire forces working together to target metal thieves. With the aim of deterring both would-be thieves and handlers, scrap metal yards across the region have been asked to sign up to the Tornado scheme.
From June anyone going to a yard to sell metal has been asked for evidence of identity in the form of a passport, national identity card or photo driving licence, supported by proof of address such as a recent utility bill. The aim is to make it easier to trace sellers of stolen metal through an identification scheme, constricting the market in which thieves can operate and making it more difficult to sell-on stolen goods.
Supt Mark Saunders, from Avon and Somerset Police, who is the South West’s regional lead tackling metal theft, said: “Tornado is already in operation in other parts of the country and has already been proven successful with the trial areas seeing a significant drop, approximately 60 per cent in the levels of opportunist metal theft, without seeing a rise in other opportunistic crime types, which is extremely positive.
“Because this is a national scheme, thieves are going to find it difficult to dispose of their stolen goods wherever they go. By working in this way – we will avoid merely displacing the crime.”
Mr Denison added: “Our churches belong to all of us; they are part of our history and our culture and so we should all be concerned about the damage being caused to our shared heritage of church buildings. We are most grateful to the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, which takes this problem seriously, and for the help in offering real practical advice and support to parishes to deter thieves.
PC Whatley added:” Police and our partners are proactively targeting metal thieves and those that handle stolen goods. But we need the public to continue to be our eyes and ears and help us protect our community buildings.
“If you live near a church please be watchful for people acting suspiciously – particularly if they have lorries or trucks nearby, or vehicles that seem to be driving up and down without obvious cause.
“There are other things churches can do to help minimise the risk of falling victim to metal thieves:
•Consider external lighting to deter thieves who prefer dark and unlit corners. Police recommend dusk ’til dawn lighting, which use energy efficient bulbs keeping electricity costs down.
•If possible install a roof alarm. Passive infrared (PIR) motion detectors work wirelessly and when the alarm is triggered, a voice-enhanced sounder and blue strobe lights activate, in order to deter intruders from trespassing further, alerting security firms and the police as well as people in the near vicinity.
•Think about covering drainpipes, and other items that could potential give thieves access to the roof, in anti-climb paint. Plant prickly or spiky plants at the bottom.
•Mark lead and other metal in using a forensic marking system.
•Sheath or cover any copper taping, used for lightening conduction, at ground level and up to approximately 2.4 meters.
•Keep the church locked at night and busy with groups and events during the day.
•Lock away any items that opportunist thieves could use to transport stolen metal such as wheel barrows and restrict vehicle access at night.
•Remove items that thieves could use to climb on to the roof such as ladders or water butts. Trim back tree branches away from the building and keep tree and plant coverage tidy.
•If lead is stolen from the roof, consider alternative materials as a replacement to prevent further crimes. Speak the Diocesan Advisory Committee for advice on replacement materials.
•Ask people living near the church to look out for and make a note of any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area and report it to police.
•If you see anyone, including workmen, working on churches or community buildings at any time of the day or night, please contact your local police who will confirm whether they are legitimate. A high-vis’ vest doesn’t mean they should necessarily be there! Those with a legitimate reason or purpose will not mind confirming who they are and what they are doing.
•If you see people acting suspiciously near a church – call police on 999 if you believe a theft is in progress.
