Accreditations
Scrap metal sellers 'may soon need to register'
05 January 2012
The government is considering a move that will see plumbers, electricians and other contractor services providers who want to sell scrap metal required to register on a cashless system.
Home Office minister Lord Henley told BBC Radio 4 he is keen to do something to halt the UK's booming trade in stolen metals, which is thought to be costing the economy £770 million a year.
He explained that the possibility of scrapyards becoming cashless is being considered, as is an enforceable identity checking system.
"At the moment you can just go there and sign in as Mickey Mouse or whoever. We want proper ID so there's greater transparency and a greater chain of who owns what," Lord Henley commented.
The Scrap Metal Theft Bill put forward by Labour MP Graham Jones last year suggested that police should have the power to shut down scrapyards that are found to have taken stolen metal.
In December 2011, Sita's Hayes site in west London rolled out a cashless payment system to try and stop thieves taking stolen materials there.
Filed under: construction industry
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