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Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing)
11 December 2024
Lead MP
Amanda Martin
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Justice & CourtsNHSEconomy
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Amanda Martin raised concerns about theft of tools of trade (sentencing) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Over recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the theft of tradespeople's tools, usually from vehicles. One in 10 tradespeople can expect to have their tools stolen this year, and the same proportion have already experienced three or more such thefts in their career. The impact on an individual or small business from the theft of critical tools goes well beyond the value of the tools themselves, with average losses including repairs to damaged vehicles costing about £1,300 and loss of work amounting to almost £2,000. Additionally, 40% of victims report a negative reputational effect, and one in 10 describe it as significant damage. The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates in the UK compared with other occupations and professions due to such thefts.
Amanda Martin
Lab
Portsmouth North
The current sentencing guidelines do not adequately address the significant additional harm caused by tool theft. I propose reforms including uprating the harm category for evidence of significant additional harm, standardising financial losses to include total costs, and ensuring that medium culpability with higher categories leads to custodial sentences.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.