Hundreds of scrap yards were the targets last month for police and partners, on visits to tackle metal theft and the trade in stolen metals.
Recovered items included; ScottishPower cabling, traffic management cabling, BT cable, Network Rail cable, copper piping, beer kegs, shopping and milk trolleys. Agencies involved in the period of action included; ScottishPower, Western Power, BT, Network Rail, Environment Agency, Smartwater (signage pictured), National Grid, Kegwatch, and the Department for Work and Pensions. Association of Chief Police Officers lead for metal theft, British Transport Police Deputy Chief Constable Paul Crowther, said: “Every single metal theft is an attack, in some form, on our communities. Whether thieves target lead from a church roof, earthing cable from a power sub-station or broadband cables, it is local residents and businesses who suffer most as it is their services, utilities and community buildings which are destroyed or disrupted. This has to stop.” The Government says that from the autumn, new laws will make it illegal for metal recyclers, who are often the first port of call for thieves looking to make a quick buck, to deal in cash. This will mean that thieves looking to sell on stolen metal will have to provide bank account details or be paid by cheque – providing police with an audit trail back to those who took the metal initially. Fines for all offences under the existing Scrap Metal Dealers Act will be increased and new powers of entry for the police will be introduced.
The authorities admit that metal theft is widely acknowledged as one of the fastest growing crime types in the UK. Wherever you live, it is likely that metal theft in some shape or form has had an impact on your life – such are the effects this crime is having on all our communities.
For British Transport Police, metal theft – particularly the theft of lineside cabling – is second only to terrorism in its list of priorities. Meanwhile other police forces and industries are taking a similarly serious view as thieves target power cables, telecoms cables, roofing lead, road signs and even war memorial plaques.
Lord Henley, Home Office Minister for Crime Prevention and Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction, said: “The Government is taking urgent action to tackle metal and cable theft head on. As a first step we intend to ban cash payments by scrap metal dealers, and significantly increase the fines for all offences under the existing Scrap Metal Dealers Act. Days of action like these are sending a clear message that metal theft will not be tolerated.”
Forces across the country joined with partner agencies to tackle metal theft during the period of action and, though all results are yet to be collated, to date, we can confirm:
* 475 officers were involved in the period of action
* 316 scrap metal recyclers were visited
* 220 scrap metal recyclers were searched
* 58 people were arrested for conspiracy to steal, theft, burglary, assault and dangerous driving
* 27 vehicles were seized.
On a wider scale, police and partner agencies in the UK are working with colleagues across Europe to tackle metal theft at home and on the continent. Police from across Europe will come together for a two-conference in London to discuss the issue and develop strategies to deal with the problem.
