East Lancashire metal thieves face tougher action

12:00pm Tuesday 13th November 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Bill Jacobs, Local government reporter

MEASURES to ‘stamp out’ metal theft with bigger fines for rogue traders and stronger police rights of entry to scrapyards will come into force next month.

The crackdown has been welcomed by Hyndburn and Haslingden MP Graham Jones who said the crime had plagued East Lancashire.

In 2011-2102 there were 2,400 metal thefts across the region, including gas pipes and window frames in Burnley, power line cables in the Ribble Valley and lead from church roofs.

The Labour backbencher said he was delighted at the new government measures to combat the menace as well as news that a backbench bill clamping down on the offence had passed a major Parlia-mentary hurdle. Crime Prevention Minister Jeremy Browne said the new laws designed to stop rogue traders would come into force on 3 December.

They will ban dealers from buying scrap metal from traders in cash and judges will be able to hand metal thieves increased financial penalties.

Police will also have greater powers of entry to tackle scrap dealers who do not comply with regulations.

A private members bill tabled by Tory MP Richard Ottaway regulating the scrap metal trade last week also got its Third Reading the Commons despite efforts by some of his party colleagues to sidetrack it.

The Scrap Metal Dealers Bill aims to reform the industry and tackle what Mr Ottaway calls ‘outdated legislation’ from 1964. It is now likely to become law next year after consideration by the House of Lords.

Mr Jones said: “Between these measures, we will get 95 per cent of what I have been campaigning for. This is good news.”

Comments (9)

12:09pm Tue 13 Nov 12

useyourhead says...

This is great news, but have they removed the clause that makes 'itinerant traders' immune from the no cash payment rule?
if they haven't it isn't worth a carrot.
This is great news, but have they removed the clause that makes 'itinerant traders' immune from the no cash payment rule? if they haven't it isn't worth a carrot. useyourhead

12:25pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Graham Jones MP says...

Itinerant traders will be allowed to use cash from the 3rd December when cashless is banned under the LASPO Bill passed in spring.

This Bill repeals that legisaltion and introduces cashless for everyone. It is in Lords today.
Itinerant traders will be allowed to use cash from the 3rd December when cashless is banned under the LASPO Bill passed in spring. This Bill repeals that legisaltion and introduces cashless for everyone. It is in Lords today. Graham Jones MP

12:26pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Graham Jones MP says...

CORRECTION

when cash... is banned for everyone else under the LASPO Bill passed in spring.
CORRECTION when cash... is banned for everyone else under the LASPO Bill passed in spring. Graham Jones MP

1:26pm Tue 13 Nov 12

useyourhead says...

Graham Jones MP wrote:
Itinerant traders will be allowed to use cash from the 3rd December when cashless is banned under the LASPO Bill passed in spring.

This Bill repeals that legisaltion and introduces cashless for everyone. It is in Lords today.
excellent then. I'm sure HMRC will be thrilled too as most of that cash never saw a penny in taxes contributed.
-
benefits agencies might be interested as well.
-
I was very happy to produce my photo I.D at my last visit as it meant something was happening, thank you for the clarification Mr Jones.
[quote][p][bold]Graham Jones MP[/bold] wrote: Itinerant traders will be allowed to use cash from the 3rd December when cashless is banned under the LASPO Bill passed in spring. This Bill repeals that legisaltion and introduces cashless for everyone. It is in Lords today.[/p][/quote]excellent then. I'm sure HMRC will be thrilled too as most of that cash never saw a penny in taxes contributed. - benefits agencies might be interested as well. - I was very happy to produce my photo I.D at my last visit as it meant something was happening, thank you for the clarification Mr Jones. useyourhead

3:16pm Tue 13 Nov 12

mavrick says...

Graham Jones MP wrote:
Itinerant traders will be allowed to use cash from the 3rd December when cashless is banned under the LASPO Bill passed in spring.

This Bill repeals that legisaltion and introduces cashless for everyone. It is in Lords today.
Well done Graham, A bill like this was long overdue.
[quote][p][bold]Graham Jones MP[/bold] wrote: Itinerant traders will be allowed to use cash from the 3rd December when cashless is banned under the LASPO Bill passed in spring. This Bill repeals that legisaltion and introduces cashless for everyone. It is in Lords today.[/p][/quote]Well done Graham, A bill like this was long overdue. mavrick

3:49pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Jack Herer says...

Graham Jones MP wrote:
Itinerant traders will be allowed to use cash from the 3rd December when cashless is banned under the LASPO Bill passed in spring.

This Bill repeals that legisaltion and introduces cashless for everyone. It is in Lords today.
I'd definitely echo what mavrick has said; good work on this front. It was a disgrace they didn't take notice of you sooner.

I genuinely think this law change will be a positive change to society in general. Things like this matter.

Society can't better when thieves can steal with impunity - which is effectively what's happening now with this crime. And it's worth remembering this is real thieves stealing from real people.

So three cheers there Graham!
[quote][p][bold]Graham Jones MP[/bold] wrote: Itinerant traders will be allowed to use cash from the 3rd December when cashless is banned under the LASPO Bill passed in spring. This Bill repeals that legisaltion and introduces cashless for everyone. It is in Lords today.[/p][/quote]I'd definitely echo what mavrick has said; good work on this front. It was a disgrace they didn't take notice of you sooner. I genuinely think this law change will be a positive change to society in general. Things like this matter. Society can't better when thieves can steal with impunity - which is effectively what's happening now with this crime. And it's worth remembering this is real thieves stealing from real people. So three cheers there Graham! Jack Herer

5:54pm Tue 13 Nov 12

Good call says...

the cashless society....
the cashless society.... Good call

11:42am Wed 14 Nov 12

useyourhead says...

Good call wrote:
the cashless society....
not really, they can still quite easily get that cash from a bank or service till.
-
besides i'm sure they will be much happier knowing that they don't have the security risk of walking around with thousands of pounds :)
[quote][p][bold]Good call[/bold] wrote: the cashless society....[/p][/quote]not really, they can still quite easily get that cash from a bank or service till. - besides i'm sure they will be much happier knowing that they don't have the security risk of walking around with thousands of pounds :) useyourhead

10:28am Sun 9 Dec 12

silent assasin says...

If only mr Jones's work and good will would extend to being at the weigh bridge offices of the wrong side of the law metal yards , he would clearly see that the new bill will not stop the thieving scum of our area opperating .
The new legislation has only been in use a week and nearly every metal yard in the area has a cheque cashing desk right next to the paying out desk which charges 2.5% ' and as for the photo i:d and no log book or visible vehicle i:D no weigh in ' it is already being flaunted by a yard in our borough that shall remain nameless . TO MUCH RED TAPE HOLDING THE LAWMEN BACK FROM DOING THEIR JOB'S AND WHAT APPEAR'S LIKE A GENERAL APPATHY OF MANY OF THE POLICE TO DEFEAT BEFORE THEY EVEN START WITH DETECTION ;-(
If only mr Jones's work and good will would extend to being at the weigh bridge offices of the wrong side of the law metal yards , he would clearly see that the new bill will not stop the thieving scum of our area opperating . The new legislation has only been in use a week and nearly every metal yard in the area has a cheque cashing desk right next to the paying out desk which charges 2.5% ' and as for the photo i:d and no log book or visible vehicle i:D no weigh in ' it is already being flaunted by a yard in our borough that shall remain nameless . TO MUCH RED TAPE HOLDING THE LAWMEN BACK FROM DOING THEIR JOB'S AND WHAT APPEAR'S LIKE A GENERAL APPATHY OF MANY OF THE POLICE TO DEFEAT BEFORE THEY EVEN START WITH DETECTION ;-( silent assasin

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