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Scrap Metal thefts on the rise

Minister calls for the industry to "clean up its act"

Home Office minister Lord Henley has demanded that the scrap metal industry should "clean up its act" because it was fuelling the rising number of incidents of theft. He has called for more stringent regulation in the industry as many dealers, it is claimed, are still refusing to abolish cash transactions for scrap metal, making it near impossible to trace thieves.

Metal theft is estimated to cost the economy £770 million every year as thieves target the transport system, public buildings such as schools and hospitals, and places of worship. There are also widespread incidences of site compounds and property being damaged in break ins as thieves target scrap metal skips on building sites and manufacturing facilities.

Ministers were considering making cash transactions at scrapyards illegal in order to put a stop to anyone making a profit from the sale of stolen metals. However this week, the private members bill was thrown out that would have overhauled the scrap metal trading legislation.

Lord Henley is in charge of a £5 million government task force investigating the issue and says some in the industry are fuelling the problem. Currently it is estimated that there are around 800 illegal yards operating across the country - the same number as legal yards.

This highlights the need to ensure that any scrap waste on your sites is securely stored prior to collection, and also to ensure that you use a reputable, fully licensed waste management company like Skippy Nationwide.

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