The new Scrap Metal Dealers Bill has passed its final reading in the House of Commons this week and is expected to come into effect by Easter, once it receives Royal Assent.
It proposes a systematic reform of the £5.6 billion scrap metal industry in order to combat metal theft crimes in the UK.
Mark Garnier, vice chair for the APPG on Metal Theft, said: 'I have worked on combating Metal theft for over a year now, and I am very pleased to see the Scrap Metal Dealers Bill pass the final reading in Parliament. Metal theft is one of our national problems and it is affecting councils all across the country, costing our economy around £770 million per year and unfortunately we have seen a large amount of Metal theft in Wyre Forest very recently.
'I believe that stricter regulation for scrap yards, including an application for a mandatory licence from their local authority, as well as closing the loophole that allows itinerant traders to continue to trade with cash, will be a step toward regaining control over the scrap metal industry. Hopefully we will see a reduction in Metal theft in Wyre Forest in the coming weeks and months as a result of this Bill.'