National Metal Theft Crime Unit launched

A six week pilot of the unit will aim to share best practice with police forces across England and Wales, highlighting the tools and powers available to tackle illegal scrap metal dealers, which the government-backed Energy Networks Association (ENA) estimates costs £360 million a year.

The Unit will be launched in February and will be run by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the British Transport Police (BTP), with joint funding from the Home Office and the ENA – a body made up of representatives from the Home Office, BERR, utility companies and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure.

However, speaking to letsrecycle.com, some industry members have questioned just what the National Metal Theft Unit would deliver in terms of action on the ground.

And, the launch of the initiative comes at a time when scrap metal prices have slumped dramatically from the historically high levels reached last summer (see letsrecycle.com story) – raising questions over whether the unit will be needed at present.

However, Linsday Millington, the outgoing chief executive of the British Metals Recycling Association – which has been vocal in its calls to stamp out metals theft (see letsrecycle.com story), welcomed the launch.

She said: “Metal recycling is a long established, globally successful industry with well established regulation. But metal theft is a major headache for our industry. There are too many criminals evading the rules and seeking to piggy-back the industry's success.”

“We are meeting regularly with the police to help them understand how the industry operates. Joint action with other regulatory authorities to close down un-registered sites is an important first step,” she added.

Enforcement 

Under the initiative, the Home Office will hold a workshop with the ACPO and BTP on January 26, which government departments and agencies with a “regulatory or enforcement role” will be invited to, in a bid to boost the fight against metals theft.

And, the Home Office has said that it will evaluate the results of the pilot at the end of March 2009, with the potential to roll out the Unit nationwide.

Further support for the initiative came from global metals recycling firm Sims, and a spokeswoman told letsrecycle.com: “As a responsible operator, we welcome this initiative to clamp down on rogue traders and fully support the Home Office and ACPO in their efforts to root out those who are acting illegally.”

Outlining the need for the unit, Home Office minister Alan Campbell said: “Metal theft is not a victimless crime. It is a serious problem with consequences for business and infrastructure, from damaged electricity and telephone cables to leaking church roofs. Metal theft has even caused power cuts and closed rail lines.

“I look forward to seeing the results of the pilot for the new National Metal Theft Crime Unit,” he added.