Church welcomes outlawing of cash for scrap

Published: 26 January 2012

Paying cash for scrap metal will be outlawed, Home Secretary Theresa May announced today in a written statement to MPs. She also told them that fines would be 'significantly increased' to tackle the growing problem of metal theft.

Anne Sloman, Chair of the Church of England's Cathedral and Church Buildings Council, said: "This is excellent news. The Church has campaigned for a long time for legislation to outlaw cash transactions for scrap metal. We are still suffering the theft of lead from 10 church roofs a day, and every weapon the Government and the police can use to help us combat this crime is greatly to be welcomed."

The theft of metal from churches is occurring on a weekly basis across Manchester. As well as lead being stripped from roofs, thieves target church interiors for memorial plaques and ornamental metal work, copper and even garden of remembrance plaques.

For more information on metal theft, click here.


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