The government has announced the creation of a national £5 million metal theft taskforce, which will help prevent major disruptions to farms, rural businesses and communities. As part of its Autumn Statement, the Government announced it had recognised metal theft as a “serious problem” and would be setting up a taskforce to develop intelligence and target and disrupt criminal networks.

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NFU chief rural affairs adviser David Collier commented, “Given the increasing problems with metal thefts in this country, this announcement is good news and well overdue.

“We hope that the taskforce makes real progress and recommends additional action as a matter of urgency with a coordinated approach and one which recognises the problems faced by rural communities. While more could be done immediately – such as a case for harsher sentences – this taskforce is a step in the right direction and the Government should respond to its recommendations appropriately in a bid to stamp down on this behaviour.”

Earlier this month the problems facing rural residents and farmers, who are isolated by the nature of their profession, were discussed at a symposium on rural crime organised by the Association of Chief Police Officers. At this symposium NFU president peter Kendall also said the union would support a Bill going through the House of Lords to clamp down on unregistered scrap metal dealers in an attempt to deter would be metal thieves.