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1185187
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2020-03-16more like thismore than 2020-03-16
star this property answering body
Church Commissioners more like this
star this property answering dept id 9 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Church Commissioners more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Church Commissioners remove filter
unstar this property hansard heading Churches: Theft remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the right hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, with reference to recent thefts of lead roofs and bells from churches in Yorkshire and Wiltshire, what steps the Church of England is taking to protect churches from thefts of lead and bells. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Strangford more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Jim Shannon more like this
star this property uin 29878 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2020-03-18more like thismore than 2020-03-18
star this property answer text <p>The Church of England has witnessed a steady increase in metal theft recently. Between 2018 and 2019, reports of thefts were up 25%. The rise is attributed to an increase in international metal prices. Additionally, significant thefts are being co-ordinated by organised criminals working in teams. The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 had great success initially, but further work is necessary to update the law to reflect the organised nature of this crime.</p><p>Recent cases of theft have included the 291-year-old bell from Bremilham Church in Wiltshire, recognised as the smallest church in England. In North Yorkshire 60% of the lead roof was stolen from St Peter's Church, Brafferton. This church had only just completed an extensive refurbishment and has now been left with a £80,000-£100,000 repair bill. Thefts are generally moving north and west along the major transport routes and while the additional funding from the Government to assist all religious buildings increase their security is welcome, it does not address the underlying causes of this sort of organised crime.</p><p>Church buildings are a community resource and are not just used by worshipers. All Parochial Church Councils are encouraged to take all measure they feel appropriate to deter potential thieves, such as using smart water and installing roof alarms. Many churches have found that by being open more frequently and welcoming people in, rather than only opening for services, this has helped reduce the risk of thefts.</p>
star this property answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire more like this
star this property answering member printed Andrew Selous more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2020-03-18T17:24:20.717Zmore like thismore than 2020-03-18T17:24:20.717Z
star this property answering member
1453
unstar this property label Biography information for Andrew Selous more like this
star this property tabling member
4131
unstar this property label Biography information for Jim Shannon more like this
1138988
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-07-15more like thisremove minimum value filter
star this property answering body
Church Commissioners more like this
star this property answering dept id 9 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Church Commissioners more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Church Commissioners remove filter
unstar this property hansard heading Churches: Theft remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Commissioners plan to investigate which roofing material is (a) least likely to be stolen and (b) best value; and if she will make a statement. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency North East Hertfordshire more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Sir Oliver Heald more like this
star this property uin 277095 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-07-18more like thismore than 2019-07-18
star this property answer text <p>The Cathedrals and Church Buildings Division of the Archbishops’ Council provide advice and guidance to churches on a range of issues, including roofing materials. <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings" target="_blank">https://www.churchofengland.org/more/church-resources/churchcare/advice-and-guidance-church-buildings</a></p><p> </p><p>Incidents of theft from non-metal roofs are rare, though there is a risk to some rarer types of slate or stone, which are most vulnerable when they are removed for repair. <br>Terne-coated stainless steel is unlikely to be stolen as it is difficult to manipulate and has a low scrap value for the work and risk involved. Metal and other material is least likely to be stolen from a church that has installed an effective alarm.</p><p> </p><p>Lead is the most likely metal to be stolen due to its value and the ease of removing it, followed by copper roofing and rainwater pipes.</p><p> </p>
star this property answering member constituency Meriden more like this
star this property answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-07-18T12:23:34.597Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-18T12:23:34.597Z
star this property answering member
312
unstar this property label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman more like this
star this property previous answer version
129640
star this property answering member constituency Meriden more like this
star this property answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman more like this
star this property answering member
312
star this property label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman more like this
star this property tabling member
69
unstar this property label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald more like this
1156262
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-10-24more like thismore than 2019-10-24
star this property answering body
Church Commissioners more like this
star this property answering dept id 9 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Church Commissioners more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Church Commissioners remove filter
unstar this property hansard heading Churches: Theft remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of major property thefts from Churches in the last five years. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency East Londonderry more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Mr Gregory Campbell more like this
star this property uin 4943 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-11-05more like thismore than 2019-11-05
star this property answer text <p>The Church of England does not hold data on thefts centrally, but it is kept by local police forces, Historic England and the insurance industry.</p><p>The most prominent form of property theft from churches is that of metal (mainly lead from roofs) and of historic building materials such as flagstones. These are items with a high resale value and which, once removed, can be difficult to identify as coming from a particular place. Because of the largely historic nature of the buildings targeted these thefts are counted as heritage crime. This issue does not just affect churches; it is so widespread that it is the subject of a joint project and Memorandum of Understanding signed by the National Police Chiefs' Council, the Crown Prosecution Service, Historic England and a growing number of local authorities, community safety partnerships and National Park Authorities. It is an agreement to work in partnership with each other to prevent and solve crimes against historic places.</p><p>The Church of England is an active partner in identifying and tackling heritage crime, especially metal theft. The church is part of Operation Crucible, the police-led initiative investigating metal theft, and it has become clear over recent years that this form of criminal behaviour is now being undertaken by organised gangs. The earlier changes to the law did initially lead to a drop in reported incidences, but recently the issue has again become more widespread. The Church of England submitted evidence to the review of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act in 2017 asking the Government to tighten up the Act to better reflect the changing behaviour of both the scrap metal trade and the organised criminal activity.</p><p>Due to the highly mobile nature of this form of organised criminal activity and without increased resource, it is hard to see how police and heritage crime officers will be able to address the increase in thefts we are seeing across the country. Thefts are moving gradually west and north along the major transport routes. This year the Church has had the first reports of metal and stone theft in the Bath &amp; Wells Diocese and in the Yorkshire Dioceses. Tightening up of the law, therefore, needs to be accompanied by increased police resources and greater political will.</p><p>Parish churches are maintained by volunteers on behalf of the local community. Aside from the financial impact of these thefts, the impact on communities is significant. The social and community impact of the crime, as well as the criminal damage to listed buildings, needs to be addressed at sentencing, as even the theft of small amounts of lead or stone cost has a huge impact on local people. These buildings represent our country’s local and national heritage. Due to the highly mobile nature of criminal gangs, it is essential that police and local churches work together to ensure that heritage crime does not become a decreasing priority for police forces.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Meriden more like this
star this property answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-11-05T15:30:10.933Zmore like thismore than 2019-11-05T15:30:10.933Z
star this property answering member
312
unstar this property label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman more like this
star this property previous answer version
3752
star this property answering member constituency Meriden more like this
star this property answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman more like this
star this property answering member
312
star this property label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman more like this
star this property tabling member
1409
unstar this property label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell more like this
1138986
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-07-15more like thisremove minimum value filter
star this property answering body
Church Commissioners more like this
star this property answering dept id 9 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Church Commissioners more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Church Commissioners remove filter
unstar this property hansard heading Churches: Theft remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to Answer of 8 July 2019 to Question 269594 on Churches, which dioceses keep records of (a) thefts and (b) attempted thefts of metal. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency North East Hertfordshire more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Sir Oliver Heald more like this
star this property uin 277093 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-07-18more like thismore than 2019-07-18
star this property answer text <p>Detailed information on this is not held centrally. <br>Historic England has the most comprehensive list of churches and other listed buildings that have experience thefts or attempted thefts of metal.</p><p> </p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Meriden more like this
star this property answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-07-18T12:22:14.387Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-18T12:22:14.387Z
star this property answering member
312
unstar this property label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman more like this
star this property previous answer version
129638
star this property answering member constituency Meriden more like this
star this property answering member printed Dame Caroline Spelman more like this
star this property answering member
312
star this property label Biography information for Dame Caroline Spelman more like this
star this property tabling member
69
unstar this property label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald more like this
1232238
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2020-09-08more like thismore than 2020-09-08
star this property answering body
Church Commissioners more like this
star this property answering dept id 9 more like this
unstar this property answering dept short name Church Commissioners more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Church Commissioners remove filter
unstar this property hansard heading Churches: Theft remove filter
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps the Church of England plans to take to tackle the theft of lead from churches. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Strangford more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Jim Shannon more like this
star this property uin 86664 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2020-09-14more like thismore than 2020-09-14
star this property answer text <p>Thefts of metal and monumental stone from churches initially fell folliowing the introduction of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, but have begun to rise again. The Church of England submitted evidence to the Government's review of the Act and recommended legislation be updated to reflect new forms of thefts, the organised nature of the crime and smelting techniques. We await progress on that and in the meantime are working closely with the APPG for Metal Theft, Historic England and the Police, to support parishes that are impacted by this form of serious organised crime.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire more like this
star this property answering member printed Andrew Selous more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2020-09-14T16:20:23.88Zmore like thismore than 2020-09-14T16:20:23.88Z
star this property answering member
1453
unstar this property label Biography information for Andrew Selous more like this
star this property previous answer version
46297
star this property answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire more like this
star this property answering member printed Andrew Selous more like this
star this property answering member
1453
star this property label Biography information for Andrew Selous more like this
star this property tabling member
4131
unstar this property label Biography information for Jim Shannon more like this