A Bill to introduce a licensing scheme for scrap metal dealers; to enable magistrates’ courts to add restrictions to licences to deal in scrap metal; to require that financial transactions in trade in scrap metals be restricted to cashless payments; to give police officers powers to search properties owned by scrap metal dealerships; to provide that scrap metal proven to have been obtained through theft may be classified as criminal assets; to introduce criminal charges for theft of scrap metal which take into account aspects of the crime other than the value of the scrap metal stolen; and for connected purposes
House of Commons
1 May 2012
This Bill would require scrap metal dealers to be licensed, with magistrates able to add conditions to licences. It also pushes for cashless payments in scrap metal trades, gives police powers to search dealer premises, and lets stolen metal be treated as criminal assets. It introduces tougher criminal charges for scrap metal theft that consider factors beyond the metal’s value.
The bill is at the second reading in the House of Commons. If it progresses, it will move to committee stage for detailed scrutiny.
Generated 21 February 2026
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
