Metal Theft

[The Scorer]

Through work, I recently attended a briefing session on this given by Sergeant Steve Clark of Gwent Police.

Although it dealt with the subject in general terms rather than specifically looking at memorials, the theft of memorials was mentioned. I have Sergeant Clark's permission to circulate his presentation to you all, and I hope that you'll find it useful.

These are the main points of the presentation:

•Costs UK economy £770 million per annum

•Cost Welsh councils £100,000 per annum

•Infrastructure crime - utility companies, trains, hospitals, airports

•Non infrastructure - homes, churches and schools attacked

•Gatwick/Cardiff airports metal theft - loss of air traffic control

•Llandough hospital - 70 cancer procedures cancelled

•Community damage

•Schools and churches with lead stolen

•Property from gardens including bikes

•Farms attacked for metal, diesel and machinery

•New legislation - The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013

•Stricter licensing dealers including mobile collectors

•Cashless trading introduced removing anonymity

•ID for sellers so metal can be traced.

•Taskforce set up for past 2 years with proactive ops.

•Gas compounds attacked in Gwent - danger of losing gas supplies to Gwent and Cardiff

•Uskmouth power station closed leading to power shortages

and here are links to two youtube videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1B1yBeEox8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-adgoP0Rzw

If you have any questions, please let me know.