EP #28 – Theft Of Tools Of Trade Bill w/ Amanda Martin MP

Overview

Tool theft is out of control – but help might finally be on the way.

In this episode of the FieldRocket podcast, host Tulloch Priest speaks with Amanda Martin MP, who’s fighting to bring justice to tradespeople through a new bill that targets tool thieves.

Highlights

Background of the Theft Of Tools Of Trade Sentencing Bill

• (1:00) 85% of tradespeople have been a victim of tool theft. The main aim of the bill is to make sentencing harsher, both as a deterrent and to help victims feel justice has been served.
• (1:49) Marking up or chipping tools hasn’t been enough to stop the crime.
• (2:35) The punishment for stealing tools is partly based on the financial losses of the crime. Amanda is campaigning to increase the culpability level to include other costs incurred by the loss of these tools, not just their market value.
• (4:00) Rather than having a recommended sentence of 36 weeks of community service, the bill suggests 1 year in prison.
• (4:45) It’s not just the value of the tools. Vans can be damaged, higher premiums on insurance, and the loss of business.
• (10:15) The bill will help include other losses that come about as part of tool theft – including the mental stress of it all.
• (13:05) The bill will reclassify the harm category and factor in the total financial losses.

Tool theft is a bigger problem than most people think

• (6:40) Amanda tells the story of a young man who came back from his honeymoon, and had his whole van stolen. The person was never prosecuted, and it took him almost 6 years to replace all the tools and get back up to speed.
• (7:35) In a study of 450 theft cases, fewer than 10 went to court and only 2 ended in jail time.
• (8:00) Tool theft is increasingly becoming part of organised crime.
• (10:37) 80% of victims say that they suffered mentally from tool theft.
• (11:47) The construction industry has now one of the highest suicide rates in the UK compared to other occupations.
• (12:33) Amanda tells the story of a tradesperson who had to pay to extend his garage so it could fit his van, as he didn’t feel safe with it out on the streets.
• (15:40) The police force are making arrests, but the problem is to do with sentencing when it gets to court.
• (17:00) It’s a 10-minute rule bill. Amanda encourages people to sign the petition to support the bill.
• (18:23) It costs money to mark up tools, and if they are stolen, getting them back to the owner is complicated. However, Amanda believes both strategies can work together.
• (20:40) People don’t realise the impact of tool theft, including those with company tools.
• (21:10) Amanda comes from a family of tradespeople.
• (24:00) The bill isn’t asking for a law change. Amanda is pushing the petition so they can have as much evidence and support behind it.
• (27:04) Amanda’s message to tradespeople.