Walsall steps up fight against metal theft
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Walsall is stepping up the fight against metal theft and is backing a change in the law to ban cash payments for scrap metal.
Everything from war memorials to residential homes, businesses and void buildings have been targeted. Several manhole covers which cost the council £500 to replace, through its contract with Tarmac, have also been taken while car exhausts are stolen for the platinum in the catalytic converters.
Due to a significant rise in value, metal theft is on the increase - Between 1st November 2010 and 31st October 2011 there were been 1,019 offences across the borough where metals have been stolen in Walsall
Agencies have joined forces launching a working group to tackle the issue. Members include Walsall Council, Walsall Partnership, Walsall Police, whg and Benefits Agency together with local residents.
An e-petition launched in August 2011 and received local, national and regional interest and attracted over 55,000 signatures.The work has helped to increase pressure on the Government to consider changing legislation.
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, Theresa May announced on 25 January 2012 the intention to lay a Government amendment to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill to tackle metal theft.
They are laying amendments to create a new criminal offence to prohibit cash payments to purchase scrap metal and to significantly increase the fines for all offences under the existing Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 that regulates the scrap metal recycling industry.
Councillor Zahid Ali, cabinet member for communities and partnerships at Walsall Council, said: “Cash transactions for scrap metal are often completed without any proof of personal identification or proof that the individual legitimately owns the metal being sold. This leads to anonymous, low risk transactions for those individuals who steal metal and this is what we are trying to stop.
“The campaign is already progressing through the House of Commons and mid way through the house of Lords. It is expected to achieve Royal Assent by the end of March 2012. Until this has come into force we are continuing to encourage public support for this issue.”
Councillor Ali added: “The police and other partners in the borough have been doing a fantastic job to stamp out metal thefts and nuisance scrap metal dealers. We recognise that compliant scrap metal dealers do add value to local residents who wish to get rid of unwanted scrap. We do not want to ban this trade but support those that work within a legal framework,” he added.
Partners have also been actively involved in tackling the problem. Last year the police launched Operation Steel which saw vehicles laden with metal stopped and checked to ensure they were operating illegally and had no stolen items.
In addition police and whg, alongside area partnerships, have been marking metal and lead at houses and businesses across the borough with Smartwater. Metal plaques on war memorials throughout the borough, including Barr Beacon, have also been forensically marked in a bid to stem the rising tide of thefts through a partnership with Smartwater as part of its In Memoriam 2014 scheme.
The invisible liquid can only be seen under UV light and enables any metal to be identified by the police and returned to its rightful owner.
Barr Beacon’s war memorial roof currently remains covered in tarpaulin following the latest theft which occurred last June. Trust members decided a temporary repair - to last until the next phase of Heritage Lottery Fund restoration project cash- would be a waste of Trust funds.
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