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Metal Theft Bill Welcomed By Industry

23 January 2012

Metal recycling industry trade association the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) has welcomed the decision reached in the House of Commons on Friday (20 January) to throw out the Metal Theft (Prevention) Bill

"The theft of metal is a huge issue for our industry and so we genuinely welcome the Government's increased focus on it," director general Ian Hetherington said of the news.

"While we agree with many of the proposals in the Metal Theft (Prevention) Bill, there were some details which we felt would not help to solve the issue. We welcome the opportunity to continue to advise and work with Government and the relevant authorities on this issue to stamp out metal theft."

Approximately 60 percent of UK recycled metal is exported. Recycling of metals is also the major contributor to the UK's achievement of targets under EU Directives such as end-of-life vehicles and packaging.

In 2006 the UK exported 7.4m tonnes of recovered ferrous (iron and steel) metal and approximately 1.5m tonnes of non-ferrous metal (such as aluminium and copper).

For a number of years, BMRA has been calling for a series of recommendations to combat metal theft. These include:

• 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
• BMRA believes that 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.

www.recyclemetals.org

Darrel Moore