MP calls for ‘radical’ measures to tackle problem of metal thefts (From York Press)

MP calls for ‘radical’ measures to tackle problem of metal thefts

9:30am Friday 27th January 2012 in Business news By Gavin Aitchison , gavin.aitchison@thepress.co.uk

RADICAL improvements are needed in the metal industry to tackle the increases in theft, one of York’s MPs has said.

The Transport Select Committee, of which Julian Sturdy MP is a member, released a statement yesterday calling on the Government to reform regulation of the scrap metal industry, as part of wider measures.

The York Outer MP said cable theft cost the economy millions of pounds in unnecessary transport delays and rail cancellations; as well as clogging up rail lines.

He said: “The audit trail generated by the scrap metal industry must be radically improved whilst the British Transport Police simply require greater powers and resources to clamp down on illegal scrap metal dealers.

“These recommendations are amongst a raft of suggestions put forward by the cross-party Select Committee and I would urge the Government to begin to implement them.”

The Committee recommended that the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 be reformed so individuals selling metal must prove their identity before a deal; that the Government test the use of cashless trading in the industry; that there be greater clarity around compensation arrangements so train operators cannot profit from disruption; that Network Rail develop a costed programme of measures to make cable more difficult to steal; and that the Department update the Committee on work to help passengers stranded on trains.

East Coast trains spokesman John Gelson said: “Cable theft is a growing problem, which in recent months has often been the biggest cause of delays to our services, and has a major impact on the railways in general.

“The industry, working alongside the British Transport Police, has done a great deal to tackle and highlight the problems caused by cable theft, but with copper prices at an historic high these are likely to worsen."