Environment Minister Lord Taylor today said that ‘dodgy’ scrap metal dealers linked to metal theft will have their licences torn up.
Further changes proposed for existing legislation would also mean anyone convicted of transporting stolen metal could be ‘forced out of business by having their carrier registration taken off them’.
Environment Minister Lord Taylor said:
“Stolen metal will be too hot to handle. Mindless criminals who steal from our railways and historic buildings, and the scrap dealers who fuel the market, are causing misery and anger for countless people.
“We’ll purge the industry of rotten elements by flushing them out of legitimate businesses, or shutting dodgy businesses down altogether.”
Today’s announcement follows the commitment of £5 million to establish a dedicated metal theft taskforce to enhance law enforcement activity in this area, and the Home Secretary’s commitment to ban cash payments for scrap metal, as part of the cross-Whitehall drive to tackle metal theft.
