Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases of theft of lead from churches have been reported in each police force area in England in each of the last three years; and what steps they intend to take to reduce the incidence of that crime.

The Office for National Statistics publishes national data on metal theft, but this does not differentiate between the type of metal stolen or its location.

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 has helped to reduce the level of metal theft since it came into force in October 2013. The Home Office also works with a range of partners through the police-led National Metal Theft Working Group. This Group includes representatives from the heritage sector, and works to see what more can be done to prevent all types of metal theft, including the theft of lead from churches.

The Home Office also works with a range of partners through the police-led National Metal Theft Working Group. This Group includes representatives from the heritage sector, and works to see what more can be done to prevent all types of metal theft.