Mark Garnier, MP for Wyre Forest, has become vice chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Combating Metal Theft, the purpose of which is to engage Parliament in the scourge of metal theft; a big problem in Wyre Forest.
Organised thieves have been stealing metal from local farmers, churches and even the Severn Valley Railway, the country's largest heritage rail way. Over recent years the problem has cost Wyre Forest communities and businesses hundreds of thousands of pounds. This year alone the estimated cost of metal theft to the whole of the UK is £770 million.
On attending the group's first meeting Mark said,
"Many people have approached me, either as a victim of metal theft or with ideas to combat it. It is vital that we tackle this issue not only for obvious economic reasons but also because of the very real risk to people's safety. 6 people have died this year as a result of metal theft and innocent people's lives are being put in danger everyday from the theft of railway line, man holes left uncovered and high voltage machinery left unlocked. There is also the distressing problem of memorial plaques to our armed forces being stolen.
"I have agreed to be vice chair of this APPG to help address the impact of metal theft on our society's vital services, places of worship and heritage and to, hopefully, find some possible solutions."
In a pointed question to the Home Office yesterday, Mark managed to guarantee a meeting for the APPG with Lord Henley, Minister of State for Crime Prevention and Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction. A link to which can be found here.