East Lancashire MP takes lead theft issue to Parliament
7:30pm Tuesday 20th March 2012 in News
AN EAST Lancashire MP has brought up the issue of metal thefts in Parliament after lead was stolen from a Lower Darwen primary school.
Jake Berry, MP for Rossendale and Darwen, highlighted the problem during Home Office Questions and was told that an amendment to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, prohibiting cash payments for metal, would be debated.
The law is expected to come into force later this year and Mr Berry said he hoped that the new rule would make it harder for thieves to go undetected.
He said: “I am pleased that the minister confirmed that they are going to stop cash payment transactions which I hope will help us combat metal theft.
“My own personal view is that we are particularly prone to this here because of our industrial heritage.
“The Government is proceeding with this anti-metal theft bill which is hopefully going to stop this happening in the future.”
The question was prompted after lead was stolen from the roof of Lower Darwen Primary School last week.
Steven Cumbo, headteacher at Lower Darwen Primary School, said he would welcome some kind of check on metal sales.
He said: “The most galling thing is that it has cost us money. They have taken money off the children because that money could have been spent on them rather than on repairs to the roof.
“It is an undetected crime at the end of the day because we have a crime reference number but is anything going to be done about it?”
Denise Gee, councillor for Fernhurst ward, said: “I was devastated that the lead had gone from the front of the school.
“It is something that has not been resolved and it keeps happening.
“Anything that protects businesses and propertied from this sort of theft has got to be positive.
“I welcome any sort of help we can get to make it more difficult to steal and gain cash.”
Comments(11)
foxy lass
says...
12:24am Wed 21 Mar 12
english rose 1
says...
3:23am Wed 21 Mar 12
dreamcatcher77zz
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3:43am Wed 21 Mar 12
louderfasterlonger
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9:50am Wed 21 Mar 12
The Hyndburn and Haslingden MP has been working on a Private Members Bill which will be considered on Friday, January 20.
From LT Jan 10th
Jake trying to steal other peoples thunder again ?
Jack Herer
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11:34am Wed 21 Mar 12
How many arrests? Zero. What a total disgrace.
There is a story we can't comment on regarding a thug who carried out a sustained attack with a knife, and he had previous, and he only got 18 months.
Meanwhile cannabis users are being arrested in droves when they aren't harming a soul. Cannabis growers, who are essentially, at worst, doing something far less bad than Tesco selling cut price killer booze, and they get more than a career criminal who carries out a sustained knife attack.
Is it me, or is the justice system in this country a complete disgrace? Otherwise, morally, where is the justice?
Why aren't we punishing and investigating real criminals like the metal thefts here, let alone the violent thugs or paedophiles / groomers? All those people have a license to cause chaos it seems, and we aren't willing to do anything about them because we're too interested in easy targets.
It is an absolute disgrace and those in power should hang their heads in complete shame.
Why aren't you catching and punishing real criminals? Is it because you are more interested in easy targets?
What about society? What about catching those who are harming society? Why do you not care?
The public are being let down - badly - and they are shocked by the way you are doing nothing about real criminals.
Do something instead of being weak willed. You are supposed to be leaders. Lead and do the right thing that will actually benefit the people for a change - the people who are working hard but watching despicable criminals get off Scott free.
Stand up and do something for God's sake, for all those hard working decent people - because you can. All it takes is courage. All it takes is leadership.
louderfasterlonger
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11:59am Wed 21 Mar 12
louderfasterlonger wrote:AN EAST Lancashire MP’s bid to tighten metal theft laws has failed to gain backing in parliament.
MP GRAHAM Jones has said he believes there is a ‘realistic’ chance of tough new measures designed to tackle metal theft becoming a reality.
The Hyndburn and Haslingden MP has been working on a Private Members Bill which will be considered on Friday, January 20.
From LT Jan 10th
Jake trying to steal other peoples thunder again ?
Hyndburn MP Graham Jones described the objection to his Bill in the Commons as ‘putting politics before train lines and war memorials’.
He said: “It would have gone a long way to cracking down on the scourge of metal theft on our national infrastructure and our national heritage.”
A second reading of the Bill will take place in March.
From LT 27th Jan
Jake Berry appears to be in a minority within the CONDEM government on this issue.
Malthus
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12:17pm Wed 21 Mar 12
louderfasterlonger wrote:I totally agree. It is Mr Jones who deserves the credit for pursuing this issue. For those readers who wish to make it more difficult for metal thieves here is a link to the on-line e-petition. Cashless Scrap Metal Trade - Amendment to Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964.
MP GRAHAM Jones has said he believes there is a ‘realistic’ chance of tough new measures designed to tackle metal theft becoming a reality.
The Hyndburn and Haslingden MP has been working on a Private Members Bill which will be considered on Friday, January 20.
From LT Jan 10th
Jake trying to steal other peoples thunder again ?
http://epetitions.di
rect.gov.uk/petition
s/406
louderfasterlonger
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12:40pm Wed 21 Mar 12
He is very good at taking credit for other people's hard work.
Twin Valley and BwDBC finishing apartments on Union Street. Jake was actually featured in the Politics Show.
Apprenticeships in the Borough, by the way Jake, 44 days to go, give us an update.
Now someone else's private members bill on scrap metal dealing.
Jack Herer
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1:05pm Wed 21 Mar 12
Malthus wrote:Signed it. Nice one.
louderfasterlonger wrote:I totally agree. It is Mr Jones who deserves the credit for pursuing this issue. For those readers who wish to make it more difficult for metal thieves here is a link to the on-line e-petition. Cashless Scrap Metal Trade - Amendment to Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964.
MP GRAHAM Jones has said he believes there is a ‘realistic’ chance of tough new measures designed to tackle metal theft becoming a reality.
The Hyndburn and Haslingden MP has been working on a Private Members Bill which will be considered on Friday, January 20.
From LT Jan 10th
Jake trying to steal other peoples thunder again ?
http://epetitions.di
rect.gov.uk/petition
s/406
Your ferret stinks
says...
1:39pm Wed 21 Mar 12
Malthus wrote:I've just signed it too.
louderfasterlonger wrote: MP GRAHAM Jones has said he believes there is a ‘realistic’ chance of tough new measures designed to tackle metal theft becoming a reality. The Hyndburn and Haslingden MP has been working on a Private Members Bill which will be considered on Friday, January 20. From LT Jan 10th Jake trying to steal other peoples thunder again ?I totally agree. It is Mr Jones who deserves the credit for pursuing this issue. For those readers who wish to make it more difficult for metal thieves here is a link to the on-line e-petition. Cashless Scrap Metal Trade - Amendment to Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964. http://epetitions.di rect.gov.uk/petition s/406
Malthus says...
8:41pm Tue 20 Mar 12