This newspaper has said before that the massive increase in metal thefts has to be tackled quickly by politicians.

An enormous amount of damage and disruption has been caused by rogues ripping out piping and cable as world prices for precious metals have soared over the past few years.

When railway signalling cables and hospital power lines are hit, as they have been, criminals also run a real risk of causing death or serious injury to innocent people.

Infuriatingly, it would only take a couple of straight-forward measures to stop the thieves in their tracks.

Everyone selling scrap should have to produce proof of identity to be recorded by registered dealers, and cash payments should be banned to make all financial transactions traceable.

Both measures are in a Private Member’s Bill drawn up by Hyndburn MP Graham Jones and last week Home Office minister Lord Henley appeared to agree that they are the way forward.

The industry might not be happy. But they wouldn’t would they?

The government must move fast, forget party politics and turn Graham Jones’s proposals into law.