22 January 2012The decision by the UK's House of Commons to reject the Metal Theft (Prevention) Bill has been welcomed the country's metal recycling industry.
According to the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA), while it supported many of the proposals in the Bill, there were some details which would not help to solve the country's growing problem of metal theft.
The association said that it have been calling for a series of recommendations to combat metal theft for a number of years.
BMRA Proposals
- Reform of the existing Scrap Metal Dealers' Act (1964) to ensure anyone selling metal is required to produce photo ID; and that scrap metal yards are required to use CCTV to monitor transactions
- Overhauling the current system of licensing and permitting for scrap metal dealers with resources allocated to effectively enforce it. For example, at present scrap metal dealers must register with local authorities, while permits/ licences are issued by the Environmental Agencies
- This recommended change would produce one single system resulting in a single national register of scrap metal dealers
- In addition this change would reduce administration required, freeing up resource to enforce legislation
- An increased focus on clamping down on the current rash of illegal and unlicensed scrap metal yards which provide an outlet for stolen materials and represent a significant environmental risk
- Greater consistency in police activity - a single, national approach which recognises that although theft is local issue, the disposal of stolen metal can take place anywhere in the country
- Introduction of tougher sentences for metal theft where its consequences impact on national infrastructure or on cultural institutions
- Greater investment on the part of asset owners, in collaboration with police, insurance companies and others, to secure assets and design out crime
- The introduction of cashless trading in the current environment would create further problems by fuelling the 'black market' for metals. It is an option worth considering once the large number of illegal and unregulated metals recyclers operating in the UK have been eliminated.
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