Baroness Browning (Con):...I ask my noble friend to encourage
leadership on this within the department. For example, we now
have Police and Crime Commissioners—who I hope are fully
briefed about the importance of metal theft. The department could
ensure that they have knowledge of such issues and understand the
wonderful result of this legislation in terms of reduction in
crime. I notice that the report said that, at the same time as the
figures came forward, the Government were aware...Request free trial
(Con):...I
ask my noble friend to encourage leadership on this within the
department. For example, we now have Police and Crime Commissioners—who I hope are
fully briefed about the importance of metal theft. The department
could ensure that they have knowledge of such issues and understand
the wonderful result of this legislation in terms of reduction in
crime. I notice that the report said that, at the same time as the
figures came forward, the Government were aware that an increase
was coming. We are now seeing that increase in metal commodity
prices. I hope my noble friend will see this as a time to start the
ball rolling again and use her good offices to make sure the
momentum is maintained...
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Williams
of Trafford) (Con):...So, where are we now? First, we
recognise that having this important legislation in place is only
half the story. The other part of the equation is effective
enforcement, as the noble Lords, and , and the noble and right
reverend Lord, , mentioned, to keep up
the pressure on those who would readily flout the law as metal
prices make the theft of metal more attractive to criminals.
Enforcement is, of course, a matter for individual police forces
and Police
and Crime Commissioners, as my noble friend and the noble Lord, Lord
Kennedy, pointed out, and it is the role of local authorities to
issue or to revoke the licences that all scrap metal dealers need
in order to conduct their business. We do, however, have to
recognise that enforcement of this legislation is one of a number
of pressures and priorities that the police and local authorities
face, and they will prioritise according to need. That is not an
apology for patchy or inconsistent enforcement; it is a recognition
of the realities of the situation...
...The final question from the noble Lord, , was on the lack of
enforcement of the Act, and enforcement has been mentioned several
times. I reiterate that it is important that the police continue to
support the Act, but, as I mentioned earlier, it is important that
police chiefs and Police
and Crime Commissioners decide how best to deploy
their resources to manage and respond to crime in their areas and
what their local priorities are...
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