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<p>We supported the introduction of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 (‘the 2013 Act’)
to help prevent and tackle metal theft. To support local agencies and others in implementing
the measures it introduced we have published guidance on the 2013 Act which is available
on GOV.uk.</p><p><br>The Home Office collects information from police forces on the
number of offences that involved the theft of metal for its scrap metal value. These
data are published annually by the Office for National Statistics and can be found
in the ‘Property Crime tables’ here: <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/focusonpropertycrimeappendixtables"
target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/focusonpropertycrimeappendixtables</a>.
Data are available for the year ending March 2013 to March 2018 and are only available
at police force area level.</p><p><br>We recognise the challenges in tackling crimes
carried out online, including in relation to metal theft. In April, we published our
Online Harms White Paper which proposes a new regulatory framework, with a new statutory
duty of care to ensure companies take responsibility for harmful and illegal content
and activity on their services.</p><p>A 2015 Home Office evaluation of Government
and police interventions aimed at reducing metal theft found good evidence that they
drove a reduction in offences. In addition, a 2017 review of the 2013 Act found that
it continues to provide a strong legislative foundation for addressing metal theft.
The evaluation and review are available on GOV.uk. We continue to work closely with
the police and others to keep this area under review.</p>
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