At last night’s meeting of Blaenhonddan Community Council, Cllr. Peter Hunter raised, under the “police matters” agenda item, the subject of metal theft. He had been told at a meeting of Catwg Primary’s governors’ finance committee that lead had been taken from a roof at the school. Regular readers will also remember the dangerous incident in the summer when gas piping was ripped from the walls of Min-yr-Allt flats.

All I was able to say last night was that the UK government was taking the matter seriously. However, if I hadn’t been on my way to Port Talbot to attend audit committee at the time, I would have been aware of this interchange in parliament earlier in the day. From questions to Home Secretary Theresa May:

11. Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham) (Con): What steps she is taking to tackle metal theft. [85726]

12. Craig Whittaker (Calder Valley) (Con): What steps she is taking to tackle metal theft. [85727]

17. Nadine Dorries (Mid Bedfordshire) (Con): What steps she is taking to tackle metal theft. [85734]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (James Brokenshire): The Government recognise the growing problem of metal theft and are taking urgent steps to address it. The Home Office is discussing with other Departments what legislative changes are necessary to assist enforcement agencies and deter offenders, including introducing a new licence regime for scrap metal dealers and prohibiting cash payments. We are also working with the Association of Chief Police Officers to establish a dedicated metal theft taskforce.

Mr Holloway: Metal theft costs us a huge amount of money in this country, as the Minister knows, whether it is of dodgy copper wire or lead from churches such as those in Ifield in my constituency. Is there any argument for seizing the entire inventories of metal dealers found to be purchasing what are effectively stolen goods?

James Brokenshire: I certainly recognise the impact that metal theft has on our communities, with the estimated cost ranging anywhere between £220 million and £777 million per annum. We underline and recognise the seriousness attached to metal theft, which is why we are seeking to establish a new taskforce better to inform intelligence and ensure that those responsible for such crimes are brought to justice.

Craig Whittaker: Calder Valley private and social landlords have reported to me the rising number of instances of houses in between tenancies being totally ripped apart—including water pipes, gas pipes and, indeed, electric wiring—causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. Does the Minister agree with me that the time has come for legislation to clamp down on rogue metal dealers who trade in such items?

James Brokenshire: The Government do not legislate lightly and have undertaken a range of work to tackle metal theft through non-legislative means. However, we have now reached the stage where the only conclusion is that new legislation is needed to tackle metal theft. We are therefore in discussion with other Departments to agree on the most appropriate option for bringing these changes forward.

Nadine Dorries: Does the Minister think it is time to change the law on the scrap metal industry? On Friday I met Alf Hitchcock, the chief constable of Bedfordshire, who informed me that his police force had targeted the dealers. The police found people coming along with stolen scrap metal, some of whom had driven vehicles there with stolen red diesel. The law at the moment pertains to an Act that was designed around the days of Steptoe and Son; is it not time to change the law?

James Brokenshire: As I thought I had already indicated, we believe that existing regulation of the scrap metal industry through the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 needs to be revised, as the law is no longer fit for purpose. We need to combine that with further enforcement and better intelligence, which is why the ACPO metal theft working group is seeking to equip police forces with the necessary tactical information to assist Bedfordshire and other police forces in cracking down on this crime.

Our local (South Wales Police) chief constable Peter Vaughan is on that working group. As he reported to Neath Port Talbot members last week, metal theft constitutes the only significant rise in crime in the county borough, so he is well equipped to make a telling contribution to it.

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