Geraint is calling on the Government to tackle the growing problem of metal theft. 

This comes as MPs debate the issue during a Business Committee on Feb ruary 7. Labour has announced a motion calling for tighter licensing and monitoring of scrap metal dealers to curb the trade in looted metal.

Between April 2010 and March 2011 cable theft on the railways increased by over 70 per cent nationally. In the Wales and Western region, there was a 49 per cent rise from 369 to 549 between 2009 and 2010.

The four-point plan to tackle metal theft, which is supported by British Transport Police, Association of Chief Police Officer and Neighbourhood Watch, includes:

1) Licensing scrap metal dealers rather than current requirement to register with the local authority.

2) Ban cash transactions especially for large scale/high value scrap metal transactions.

3) Tougher police powers to close rogue traders down.

4)  Anyone selling scrap to provide proof of identity, recorded at the point of sale.

Geraint said:

“This Government needs to go further if it is to effectively tackle the growing crime of metal theft.

"Households face repeated power cuts, commuters face increasing delays, churches and public buildings are being damaged, all as a result of escalating metal theft. The theft of electric wires is even putting lives at risk.

"Banning cash transactions in itself will not solve the problem, as whilst legitimate scrap yards will go cashless, some yards may continue to take cash and continue a black market.

“Labour is calling for tougher powers for the police to close these rogue traders down. Currently the police cannot enter a yard and close it down – so the Government’s plan won’t achieve what it is setting out to do.

“People that are selling scrap metal should also have to provide proof of identity at point of sale and the metal dealers should be properly licensed.

“The test of whether this Government is serious about tackling metal theft is whether it backs Labour’s more robust package of measures.”