Scrap metal thefts are helping drive sales of plastic alternatives to traditionally metal products among businesses and are also inducing many enterprises to improve security at their premises, according to workplace equipment provider HC Slingsby plc.
Slingsby, which supplies more than 35,000 products to companies in all industries, has seen sales of its security-related products soar over the past 12 months. The company also reports a steep rise in customers specifying products not made of metal.
An estimated 15,000 tonnes of metal was stolen in the UK last year. This has resulted in the recent launch of Operation Tornado, a voluntary scheme that asks scrap yards to record details about everyone they buy metal from. The initiative is run by the British Transport Police, British Metals Recycling Association, Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office.
See: Metal prices could remain high despite weak demand
Slingsby Marketing Director Lee Wright comments: “There’s no doubt Operation Tornado will make it more difficult for criminals to sell stolen metals, but because it’s voluntary and only operates in certain parts of the UK, this illegal activity will still continue. New legislation is currently being considered that that will ban cash payments for scrap metal, because at the moment thieves can virtually trade anonymously with scrap yards. And fines for all offences listed under the 1964 Scrap Metal Dealers Act look set to rise in order to deter thieves.”
Continuing, Wright says: “These changes could still be some way off, so until then, workplaces have no choice but to continue protecting themselves from thieves. As a result, we’re seeing increasing sales of all types of security products, ranging from dummy cameras through to security fencing. In addition, lots of customers are avoiding metal products and buying plastic alternatives instead, across a huge range of products including bins, benches and even signs.”
Sourced from etmm-online.com
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