EXCLUSIVE: Metal theft is continuing to decline, the National Crime Agency has said in its annual review of serious crime in the UK.
Churches are still vulnerable to metal theft, said the National Crime Agency
Commenting in its National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2017, published last week, the Agency said: “Available data indicates that metal theft continues to decline. However increases in lead prices and potential increases in copper may impact on theft levels.”
But, the Agency said it was aware that church roofs remained a target. It reported: “In 2016 particular vulnerabilities were noted in relation to ecclesiastical premises, including lead frequently stripped from church roofs.”
However, today (4 July) the British Metals Recycling Association, which represents the scrap metal sector, said that it had heard ‘anecdotally’ that metal theft was rising.
Robert Fell, the BMRA’s chief executive told letsrecycle.com that the association “is currently working with a wide range of stakeholders in relation to tackling metal theft. The anecdotal information shared during these exchanges strongly suggests metal theft is rising, as metal prices rise. Moreover, the nature of the crime seems to have shifted from smaller, opportunistic thefts, to larger, far more damaging, organised thefts, where for example, 50 square metres of church roof lead can be taken in one attack.”
“the Alliance has written to MP’s expressing concern about the lack of enforcement”
Robert Fell
Chief executive BMRA
Surprising
And, Mr Fell added that he therefore felt that the findings of the National Crime Agency Annual Report were surprising. “ The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 is currently under review by the Home Office, and all the stakeholders I talk to, like the BMRA, want the Home Office to both strengthen the Act and put measures in place to ensure it can be enforced – for example, like the reintroduction of the Metal Theft Task Force.”
To assist with sharing our message, the BMRA working with BT and the Energy Networks Association have set-up the Alliance for Combatting Metal Theft. Mr Fell explained that “together with the National Archdeacon Forum, ChurchCare, Kegwatch, the Society of Independent Brewers, and the British Beer and Pub Association, the Alliance has written to MP’s expressing concern about the lack of enforcement and the fact that the Act needs to be strengthened and enforced as part of the review to ensure the rise in metal theft is tackled.”
Related links
National Crime Agency
British Metals Recycling Association
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Source: letsrecycle.com Metal
