NEWS - National Day of Action to Tackle Metal Theft - 14/12/11
The Home Office, DEFRA, The Environment Agency and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs are joining police officers on a day of national action to address the growing problem of metal theft.
According to an official statement on the ACPO website, 2011 has been “an extraordinary year” for metal theft, with all industries recording significant year-on-year increases for associated crimes.
Police forces and industry leaders are coming together to tackle those who persist in stealing metal whether it be from railways, business premises, utilities, churches or homes.
Deputy chief constable Paul Crowther, who heads the Association of Chief Police Officers’ (ACPO) Metal Theft Working Group, said: “This has been a remarkable year in terms of metal theft. We have seen unprecedented levels of criminal activity, but we’ve also witnessed incredible efforts by the police and other agencies to tackle the issue.”
Paul Crowther continued, “This day of action builds on the success of previous operations. All involved will use intelligence gathered throughout the year to target those we believe are putting the infrastructure at risk of serious harm. All affected industries are now working together to deal with the associated problems, and we continue to push for strengthened legislation to help deal with rogue scrap metal recyclers.”
There has been a large increase in metal theft from Churches across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands, with John Coates, from Ecclesiastical Insurance, stating that the increase in crime is a direct result of the rise in scrap metal prices worldwide.
Back in October of this year the GBSG team joined seminars in Horncastle and Lincoln, to help tackle this problem alongside speakers from English Heritage, Lincolnshire Police, Ecclesiastical Insurance and SmartWater.
GBSG director Neil Jackson said of the growing problem, “We were starting to see a large increase in the number of enquiries from Churches across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands who had been advised to put security measures in place to safeguard them from the increase in metal theft.”
He continued, “Due to planning restrictions, many Churches face problems when wanting to install security measures due to the damage this may cause the building. To overcome this we developed the Video Verification CCTV System which offers many additional benefits included quick installation, no cabling as it is completely wireless and it operates over the mobile phone network so does not require the installation of a telephone line, ensuring no installation damage to the building.”
In conclusion, Paul Crowther added, “As we approach 2012 I can assure everyone that efforts to reduce metal theft and its impact will continue. Thieves and unscrupulous dealers will find the UK is not prepared to suffer any further, and we will not hesitate to take action against anyone who is found to be involved in this form of criminality.”
For more information on the Video Verification CCTV System click here.
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