Energy networks welcome funding to combat metal thieves

Energy networks have welcomed £500,000 of extra government funding aimed at cracking down on metal theft.

The Home Office and Department for Transport announced yesterday it would invest further into the Metal Theft Taskforce, which aims to enforce laws surrounding illegal metal dealing.

The Energy Networks Association (ENA) led the campaign to bring about the new Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, which requires scrap metal dealers to hold licences issued by local authorities. Along with supporting MPs and peers, it also made the case for funding to be continued for the Taskforce.

David Smith, ENA chief executive, said: “After many years of campaigning for tougher rules to stop metal thieves, the new legislation must be supported by well-resourced policing and enforcement to be effective.

“Society as a whole is a victim of this crime and every effort should be made to ensure our energy, transport and telecommunications infrastructure can provide their vital services without the disruption of this dangerous criminal activity.”

So far, targeted operations against metal thieves have resulted in more than 1,000 arrests for and there has been a 40 per cent fall in the number of offences for the three months to the end of March 2013 compared to the three months to the end of June 2012.

Norman Baker, the crime prevention minister, said: “The coalition government has made it harder than ever before for metal thieves to prosper and our £6 million investment in the National Metal Theft Taskforce is reaping rewards.

“Alongside our reforms to ban cash payments and regulate the scrap metal trade, the taskforce has helped to make it much more difficult for thieves and unscrupulous dealers to profit from crime.”