A DUDLEY MP is urging the West Midlands Police chief constable to maintain pressure on metal thieves despite taskforce cuts.

Cash to pay for a national taskforce to tackle metal-related offending will run out in October and industry chiefs have warned without strong enforcement of new legislation crime could start to rise.

Chris Kelly, Dudley South MP and co-chairman of the parliamentary all-party working group on combating metal theft, says regional police chiefs, including West Midlands Police Chief Constable Chris Sims, should take a lead in the war on this type of crime.

Chris Kelly said: “I recognise the serious impact metal theft can have on both national infrastructure and on local communities. It is estimated that metal theft costs the UK economy around £220 million a year and it has a huge impact on our communities - from disrupted rail services to desecrated war memorials and damaged church roofs.

“From October this year, the enforcement of the law on this issue will become the responsibility of individual police forces based on their local crime priorities. I hope that Chief Constable Chris Sims will recognise its importance amongst his list of other, competing priorities.”

Detective Inspector Jamie Checkland, the West Midland Police regional metal theft co-ordinator, said: "The aim of the taskforce was to tackle the growing problem of metal thefts, which reached its peak in 2011.

"The funding from the taskforce allowed us to allocate specialist officers to run targeted operations, improve intelligence gathering and implement practices aimed at disrupting thieves and rogue metal traders in the West Midlands.

"These actions have led to around a 63 per cent reduction in metal thefts since 2012 and many of these practices have now been absorbed into our day-to-day policing activities. In addition, this industry is now regulated through a comprehensive licensing regime managed by local authorities, the Environment Agency, the police and other partners.

"We are committed to continuing the good work initiated by the taskforce and metal theft will remain a priority for the force, especially in the Black Country where metal still plays an important role in the local industry.

“To further demonstrate that commitment, Chief Inspector Phil Dolby from Dudley police station has recently been appointed as the new force lead for metal theft to ensure this excellent momentum is maintained."