(L-R): Mandy Haeburn-Little (Scottish Business Resilience Centre), Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, Chief Superintendent Ellie Bird (British Transport Police) and Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay (SFRS).

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) yesterday (25 February) held a summit to highlight the ‘danger caused by thieves stealing metal and the economic impact of their crimes’.

Organised by the Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) and backed by the Scottish Government, British Transport Police, Police Scotland, and utilities providers Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy, the Metal Theft Scotland Summit sought to address how metal theft is a ‘major threat to public safety and the economy’.

Held at the West Training Centre in Cambuslang, near Glasgow, the event brought together members of the fire service, police service and ‘representatives of other public agencies, major utilities companies and insurance providers’ to discuss the wide-ranging problems caused by metal theft.

Summit details

According to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), metal theft has become endemic (due to the high value of metal) and costs the UK economy in excess of £770 million per year.

However, aside from costs, metal theft also poses a danger to life. At the summit, SFRS outlined that in November 2013, firefighters were called to four house fires in Greenock after interference with an electricity substation caused surges to homes and left around 280 properties without power.

A man suffered smoke inhalation as the result of one of the fires, while a similar incident in October saw a man and a pregnant woman narrowly escape with their lives after a fire broke out at their house in Perth.

SFRS Assistant Chief Officer and Director of Prevention and Protection, Lewis Ramsay, who opened the summit, said: “The Metal Theft Scotland Summit brings together a wide range of partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors who are committed to tackling this threat.

“Anyone engaged in metal theft is risking lives. These are not victimless crimes and we are working closely with the police and others to protect our communities… Those involved in metal theft must know their actions put the public at risk as well as the firefighters and our fellow emergency responders who are called to emergencies.”

Ramsay also urged the public to help, asking anybody with information to contact the police immediately.

Plans to prevent theft

Cabinet Secretary of Justice Kenny MacAskill, who also spoke at yesterday’s event, outlined that there are plans to ‘tighten up the licensing of metal dealers and make Scotland a more hostile place for thieves’, through the introduction of a new Licensing Bill, announced as part of the government’s legislative programme 2013/14.

Justice MacAskill said: “Metal theft causes huge problems for individuals, communities and businesses and the Scottish Government is committed to cracking down on this extremely harmful, illegal activity…

“Along with proposals for tougher legislation, more effective enforcement has been introduced including the British Transport Police team dedicated to tackling metal theft.

“The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has also adopted a tougher prosecution policy in relation to this issue and courts now reflect the full consequential costs from an offence.”

Chief Superintendent Ellie Bird, Divisional Commander for British Transport Police Scotland and Chair of Metal Theft Scotland, added that although metal thefts may be falling across the UK, there are still problems.

He said: “Our communities are still being blighted; trains are still being delayed; electricity substations are still being broken into; dry risers damaged, lead is still being stolen from church roofs and plaques are still being ripped off war memorials.

“These crimes not only cause immense inconvenience and upset to the public but they can also put them in real danger, and those who are foolish enough to commit the crime.”

He added: “Our officers are now embedded in the Borders Railway and Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Project and working closely with a range of partners to mitigate any threat from thieves. [This] metal theft summit brings together a wide range of organisations determined to tackle the issue.”

The summit follows on from statistics that show there has been a steady decline in metal theft over the last few years in England and Wales, partly due to the introduction of the Scrap Metal Dealers Bill, which was brought into effect to ‘reform’ the scrap metal industry and bring in tougher measures against metal theft.

Anyone with information regarding metal theft can call the police on the non-emergency number 101. Anonymous information can be given to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.