Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Theft of Tools from Trades People

Monday 8 June 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Stealing tools from tradespeople is considered a serious crime that impacts their livelihood and causes inconvenience.
  • Bim Afolami suggested using the ToolWatch app to combat tool theft, which helps trace tools and aids police in fighting crime.
  • The Minister praised Afolami's innovative approach and expressed interest in further exploring how technology can be used to fight crime.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bim Afolami Con Wealden
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

There is an issue with the theft of tools which impacts tradespeople's livelihoods and causes inconvenience.

Question

What steps is her Department taking to help reduce the level of theft of tools from trades people?

Answer from Kit Malthouse (Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service)

Stealing someone's tools is a particularly rotten kind of crime. Not only does it deprive them of their belongings, which is bad enough, but it also often deprives them of their livelihood, notwithstanding the inconvenience that it causes to them and their employers. We are determined to do something about this, which is why I recently convened a group of people from the industry and from policing to look at what more we can do to help. We are spending £25 million on our safer streets fund to drive down exactly this kind of acquisitive crime.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Bim Afolami Con Wealden
Crime & Law Enforcement Science & Technology
Context

Bim Afolami asks to champion the use of modern technology such as ToolWatch app designed by Harpenden residents.

Question

Will he join me in championing the use of modern technology to combat tool theft such as the ToolWatch app? This technology makes each tool traceable and can help police fight this crime. Will he take this opportunity to champion ToolWatch and help to spread its use in police forces throughout the country?

Answer from Kit Malthouse (Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service)

My hon. Friend is one of the most original thinkers in the House and therefore it is no surprise that he champions innovation in all things, including crime fighting. Yes, he is absolutely right, there is lots more we can do in harnessing technology to fight crime, and I would be very interested, when we get back to normal, to visit his constituents and see ToolWatch for myself so that we can take it and promote it to the industry more generally.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)