Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to enhance police inspection powers in respect of mobile scrap metal dealers and collectors.

The police have powers to check and inspect scrap metal dealer sites and to verify mobile collectors’ licenses. We do not have any plans to change these powers, although we shall continue to work with the police and other partners through the National Metal Theft Working Group to ensure that the police and local authorities have the powers they need to ensure that those who trade and deal in scrap metal are fully compliant with the legislation.