At a Scottish Parliamentary Metal Theft Summit, organised by Energy Networks Association (ENA) and hosted by Stuart McMillan MSP, industry and parliamentarians were united in calls for a strong approach to deliver for the Scottish public, protection and safety against the dangerous attacks on communities from metal thieves.
The Scottish Government’s forthcoming licensing bill will seek to introduce tougher legislation around the licensing of scrap metal dealers. Clear requirements for legislation in Scotland is important for law enforcement, for victims, for the metal recycling industry and for insurance companies – and they are all vital to eradicate the problem. There should also be, it was stated, better record keeping for scrap dealers, a formal and compulsory licensing scheme, a full ban on cash transactions without exemption and the law and law enforcement bodies should be in place.
The summit agreed a strong support for a coordinated national campaign in Scotland, to raise awareness of the risks of metal theft with the public and to help police stop the crime.
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