Metal theft petition

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 17 Oct 2011, 21:32

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.g ... itions/406

Cashless Scrap Metal Trade - Amendment to Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964

Responsible department: Home Office

Due to a significant rise in value, metal has become a much sought after commodity. This increased demand has resulted in a sharp rise in metal theft nationally. Metal fencing, gates, manhole covers and other metallic items are stolen on a regular basis. Property is raided for lead, copper and cabling. War memorials and statues have been taken. Overhead power lines are stolen at serious risk to personal safety with huge costs for replacement and major inconvenience to the public. Historically the scrap metal trade has been a cash in hand industry. This creates difficulties as there is no audit trail, making identification of individuals who may be trading stolen metal or who may be committing tax or benefits fraud, a difficult proposition. An amendment to the Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964 to prohibit cash transactions would make payment by cheque or directly into a bank account mandatory and would be a significant component in reducing metal theft.

16,916 signatures so far.

Bandidoz · Post by **Bandidoz** » 17 Oct 2011, 21:37

Signed

ujoni08 · Post by **ujoni08** » 17 Oct 2011, 22:55

Signed

SleeperService · Post by **SleeperService** » 18 Oct 2011, 09:12

Signed and hassling email sent to long suffering contacts

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 18 Oct 2011, 10:59

Who trusts a cheque these days?

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 18 Oct 2011, 16:13

Who here would accept a cheque as payment from a bloke in a white transit with a pikey accent?
Never mind "sure I've just done the BACS run"....

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 19 Oct 2011, 01:14

The collector can still give cash to small suppliers but he would need an audit trail for bigger stuff. He's not going to buy 50 metres of 25mm electric cable from the average householder is he. He might get a duff battery or a leaky copper cylinder but 25mm cable or a multi strand telephone cable? That sort of stuff should be notifiable.

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 19 Oct 2011, 10:25

Ken
But thats not what the petition says....

An amendment to the Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964 to prohibit cash transactions would make payment by cheque or directly into a bank account mandatory

Unless the SMM already has such exceptions.

All of which ignores the fact that scrap merchants will already know whats stolen and what isnt, even if they are "wilfully ignorant" of the specifics.

This will make life impossible for the law abiders, and be ignored by the law breakers.