Councillors calls on Home Secretary to take more action on scrap metal theft

Two Hinckley Liberal Democrat councillor's have written to the Home Secretary asking for the government to take more action to deal with the problem of scrap metal theft.

Liberal Democrat Councillors David Bill (Hinckley Clarendon), and Michael Mullaney (Hinckley Trinity) have issued the plea after the recent attempted theft of lead worth £50,000 from the roof of St Mary's Church in Hinckley.

Cllr David Bill said "Scrap metal theft does huge damage to local communities. Not only do we have this recent incident at St Mary's Church, last year the stealing of copper telephone wiring from outside of Barlestone saw many people left without telephone and internet services until it was repaired."

Cllr Michael Mullaney added further "The government is taking some steps to deal with this problem but it needs to take further action to make stealing metal less attractive to criminals, otherwise we will continue to see these kinds of incidents ."

In the letter David Bill and Michael Mullaney welcome government plans to outlaw cash payments for scrap metal sales and to increase the fines for Scrap Metal Dealers who break the law. But they urge the government to go further and back a proposed new Metal Theft Prevention Bill which includes proposals for a robust licensing scheme, the requirement for proof of ID for all those selling scrap metal and the identification and recording of the metal itself to create an audit trail.