On-line petition to help reduce metal theft
An e-petition calling on the Home Office to amend the Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964 - to prohibit cash transactions in an effort to reduce metal theft – has received over 14,000 signatures so far.
Metal theft is a significant and increasing problem in the UK. Over 20 churches have been targeted this year in Suffolk alone. Historically the scrap metal trade has been a cash-in-hand industry (leaving no audit trail, making identification of suspected metal thieves tricky). The amendment the petition calls for would make payment by cheque or directly into a bank account mandatory, which could help to reduce metal theft.
The picture shows damaged lead roofing from the St Nicholas Centre in Ipswich.
The cost of metal theft to churches is becoming increasing insupportable as insurance companies are limiting the amount paid out. If, for example, parish A has its aisle roof stripped of lead – the cost of replacement could be £26,000. Parishes covered by Ecclesiastical Insurance Group would receive a maximum of £5,000 leaving the parish to find a further £21,000.
English Heritage has issued new guidance on theft of metal from church buildings . This is in response to the intensification of the problem in some parts of England. The guidance offers greater clarity on when alternative materials might be appropriate and which ones are likely to be considered following theft of roofing materials. Further information is also available on the .
Published by the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich and reproduced with permission
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