Licensing scrap metal dealers: councils' role in fighting metal theft

London - 15 June 2012

The increase in metal theft has led to a tightening of the rules around scrap metal dealers. They will have to introduce cashless transactions, and the penalties for breaching the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 have been increased. Councils will be responsible for enforcing these changes. Richard Ottaway MP will also be taking forward a private members bill with government support, which will replace the 1964 Act with a new licensing regime. This conference looks at what councils' changing role will mean and what they can do to reduce metal theft.

Registration time

9.45am

Start Time

10.30am

End time

4.10pm

Who should attend

Programme

Download the flyer (PDF, 4 pages 318KB)

Why you should attend

With disruptions to rail services, interruptions to telecommunications, and the desecration of cemeteries Mr Richard Ottaway's bill is likely to receive cross-party parliamentary support.  Multi-agency action at a local level is already being taken to catch metal thieves, but the private members bill will compliment a package of measures from the government designed to reduce the amount of metal theft.  At the core of these proposals are a new licensing regime administered and enforced by councils that will require dealers to keep better records and will extend the use of cashless transactions. Additionally there will be a new national database of scrap metal dealer licences maintained by the Environment Agency.  Councils will not only have a key role to play in enforcing the changes made to the regulations around scrap metal dealers that are due to come into force in the autumn, but will have a central role in the new licensing regime for scrap metal dealers.

This unique one-day conference will provide an opportunity to:

• look at developing trends in metal theft and what it means for enforcement activity
• discuss what the move to cashless transactions for scrap metal dealers and the increased penalties for offences under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 mean for councils
• explore what the new licensing regime for metal recycling facilities councils will have to administer and enforce will look like
• hear about existing best practice in reducing metal theft through the existing legislation and also in designing out metal theft
• learn about joint partnership work between the police and councils to tackle metal theft.

How to book

Please refer to our terms and conditions of booking situated on the left hand side of the screen.
Please complete the online booking form on this page.

Download the record of attendance form (PDF, 1 page, 33KB) 

Further information

For further information or any other queries please contact:
The events team
Telephone: 020 7664 3131
Email: events@local.gov.uk

For sponsorship and exhibition opportunities only please contact:
Richard Mole
Telephone: 020 7664 3157
Email: richard.mole@local.gov.uk

Special requirements

Due to the pressures on the provision of special requirements such as BSL interpreters, the LGA will need six weeks' notice to provide this service.

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12 June 2012