A NEW law which prevents cash payments for scrap metal has been welcomed in Notts.
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO Act 2012) comes into force today.
The new legislation, which amends the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 (SMDA 1964), aims to better regulate the sale of scrap metal by introducing new offences and powers for police.
It prevents anyone from making or receiving cash payments for scrap metal, demands sellers produce identification, allows police access into unregistered scrap metal sites and raises fine levels for offences.
Chief Inspector Sean Anderson, force and region lead for metal theft reduction, said: "Over the last 18 months we have put a lot of work into combating metal theft, including setting up our own dedicated team and working in partnership at a regional level. As a result, we are currently seeing reductions.
"Now that we have these new laws to give us further powers to control the stolen goods market, we intend to use them to ensure we are seeing less and less victims of this type of crime in the East Midlands."
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO Act 2012) comes into force today.
The new legislation, which amends the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 (SMDA 1964), aims to better regulate the sale of scrap metal by introducing new offences and powers for police.
It prevents anyone from making or receiving cash payments for scrap metal, demands sellers produce identification, allows police access into unregistered scrap metal sites and raises fine levels for offences.
Chief Inspector Sean Anderson, force and region lead for metal theft reduction, said: "Over the last 18 months we have put a lot of work into combating metal theft, including setting up our own dedicated team and working in partnership at a regional level. As a result, we are currently seeing reductions.
"Now that we have these new laws to give us further powers to control the stolen goods market, we intend to use them to ensure we are seeing less and less victims of this type of crime in the East Midlands."
