Legislation to ban cash payments and increase fines but MPs will push for more.

Karen Lumley MP who asked a question of the transport minister about metal theft has welcomed a Home Office statement today that the government will amend the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, currently passing through the House of Lords to tackle the crime.

Along with colleagues Karen will be pushing for further action such as a tougher licensing regime for scrap metal dealers and working with police, councils and the industry to make sure the new legislation is as effective as possible.

Speaking after the Government’s announcement Karen said, “This is good news and shows that the government is prepared to act fast on a crime that has become a real problem for people and businesses all over the country. It was right that decisive action should be taken to ban cash payments which have made it just too easy to launder stolen metal. Now we need to engage with the scrap metal industry, with the police and with the thousands of organisations that are affected by metal theft to make sure the new legislation really works and to put in place a stronger and fairer licensing regime.”

“Just last week I was discussing the issue of metal theft with local people and I heard how community facilities in Worcestershire had been targeted and people put in danger through sabotage to the heating and ventilation systems of swimming pools in Worcestershire. Metal theft remains an acute and serious problem which I know our police are treating very seriously. It is welcome that we will now have tougher laws with which to support them.”