The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) has said it is ‘dismayed’ by the Home Office’s decision not to amend the conditions of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.
But, the Home Office reports that levels of metal theft have been decreasing since the introduction of the Act.
The Scrap Metal Dealers Act came into effect in late 2013, and outlawed the payment of cash for scrap metal by recyclers
Robert Fell, chief executive of the BMRA, said the organisation was “extremely disappointed” that the Home Office had ignored requests for the legislation to be strengthened.
“Dismayed”
He said: “We are further dismayed that, despite the rising incidents of metal theft, they have chosen not to allocate funds to enforce the Act through the reestablishment of the Metal Theft Taskforce.
“Since the review was announced, we have repeatedly warned that, as metal prices recover, the reports of metal theft will rise – and they have done, significantly.”
The Scrap Metal Dealers Act came into effect in late 2013, and outlawed the payment of cash for scrap metal by recyclers. The law also requires every scrap metal dealer responsible for obtaining a licence to trade from their local authority.
Review
Following the publication of a review into the Act, the Home Office reports that metal theft has fallen by more than three quarters in four years following its introduction.
According to the Home Office, the review revealed the number of thefts has dropped from nearly 62,000 per year in 2012/13 to around 16,000 in 2015/16. And, recent figures from the Office for National Statistics showed police-recorded metal thefts in England and Wales fell to fewer than 13,000 in 2016/17.
At its peak, the Home Office said metal theft was estimated to cost the economy more than £220 million per year.
Minister for crime, safeguarding and vulnerability, Victoria Atkins, said: “Metal thefts can have a hugely negative impact on victims and the wider community, particularly when items which form part of our nation’s heritage such as war memorials, the statues in our parks and town centres, or other sites of religious, community or cultural value are callously targeted.
“I am pleased the Act continues to be a powerful weapon against this form of criminality and the robust measures put in place in 2013 are working to regulate the industry and deter people from stealing metal or dealing with stolen scrap metal.”
“Pleaded”
The BMRA said when the Review was announced it “pleaded with Government to both further strengthen and enforce the Act”.
The measures that were requested included: creating a new offence of receiving cash for scrap metal; expanding police powers to inspect itinerant collectors; and creating a more rigorous local authority licensing regime.
“Having ignored these requests for the Act to be amended, and those made by other key stakeholders, the Home Office must be prepared to be held accountable for soaring metal theft figures, and any resulting injuries to members of the public.”
Robert Fell
BMRA
However, in the conclusion to its review, the Home Office said: “The overwhelming view of those who responded was that the Scrap Metal Dealers Act had improved regulation of the scrap metal industry and, by doing so, had helped to achieve reductions in the level of metal theft. The overwhelming view was that the Act should continue in force. The Government agrees with this view.”
When questioned over the conflicting views on metal theft levels, BMRA’s Robert Fell said metal prices are increasing and thefts are getting worse as the material becomes more valuable.
Impact
He explained that the Office of National Statistics (ONS) records the number of incidents but cannot reflect the amount of metal being stolen. He said historically the numbers were very high as small crimes were counted separately. But, he explained there is a greater value and impact of thefts now.
Mr Fell criticised the ONS data as “fundamentally flawed” for recording incidents numerically rather than based on impact.
Following the publication, he warned: “Having ignored these requests for the Act to be amended, and those made by other key stakeholders, the Home Office must be prepared to be held accountable for soaring metal theft figures, and any resulting injuries to members of the public.”
Related links
Review
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Source: letsrecycle.com Metal
