The Environment Agency will soon have greater powers to complement the police and partner organisations in dealing with the burgeoning metal theft epidemic.

Delegates at an ACPO seminar were told that the Agency would be able to block the issuing of its own licences to dealers and carriers – if they had previous theft related history.

Bob Mead, Environment and Business Manager, said that these types of offences would now be taken into consideration in a move that would clamp down on rogue elements.

Mr Mead told the seminar in Kettering, Northamptonshire: “Up until now we have only been able to consider licences on the basis of environmental issues.

“But as of April we are going to be able to take metal theft offences into consideration. It will take longer with the carriers because it will require legislation.”

The move is likely to be welcomed by Chief police officers battling the growing metal theft problem – and its continuing impact on the country’s infrastructure.

As previously reported on PoliceOracle.com, Home Secretary Theresa May has proposed that there should be tighter regulation of the scrap metal industry.

She has confirmed that a ban on cash payments for scrap metal and greater penalties for offenders would be created as an amendment to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill being considered in Parliament.

The Environmental Agency is responsible for overseeing the environmental impacts of the scrap metal industry. As of last year, it had 827 metal recycling organisations on its radar as well as more than 1,700 scrapyards.

Mr Mead confirmed that action had been taken against scores of scrapyards operating outside of an environmental licence in 2010 – however he admitted other businesses were springing up as fast as offenders were being taken out of circulation.

But he said Environment Agency staff had played a full role in last year’s Day of Action against metal theft, visiting 22 sites where stolen metal had been found. “I think this shows that the intelligence-led approach is working” Mr Mead concluded.