Insurance claims for metal thefts from churches have reached their highest ever levels, according to a leading insurance company. Ecclesiastical has claimed that in excess of 2,500 claims were submitted in 2011, surpassing the previous record of 2,400 claims in 2008. According to Ecclesiastical, Chelmsford Diocese in Essex submitted over 90 claims for metal theft and was ranked the worst hit area of the UK. The dioceses of Lincoln and Litchfield were ranked the second and third worst hit areas.
According to a poll of 2,058 UK adults, conducted on behalf of the insurer, there is wide public support for the introduction of tougher metal theft legislation. Their poll indicated that two thirds, 67 per cent, of adults supported a change in the law to ensure that it was more difficult for criminals to sell on stolen lead and other metals. An additional 23 per cent of respondents claimed to back such changes in the law.
John Coates, the service director for Ecclesiastical's direct insurance, described 2011 as a “very tough year”, claiming that incidents of church metal thefts had become “endemic”. Mr. Coates has told of the importance of toughening up metal theft laws. Mr. Coates’ message to the Government follows the launch of a British Transport Police campaign to safeguard the UK’s railways against metal theft. Detective Inspector Mark Cleland has stated that 2011 had seen an “unprecedented” number of metal thefts that had resulted in disruption to countless railway travellers.
Duncan Lewis’ criminal law solicitors can defend the rights of clients accused of metal theft.