Equipment theft is getting renewed attention among MPs following a recent exchange between former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and policing minister Dame Diana Johnson in the House of Commons.
Both MPs reaffirmed their support for the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, a new law that came into force in January 2024 to make it more difficult for criminals to steal and sell stolen machinery.
The Act provides powers for the government to introduce regulations requiring immobilisers, forensic marking, and registration for quads and ATVs at the point of sale.
It also allows for these powers to be extended to cover other categories of equipment, including construction plant – something the industry is calling for as a priority.
Sunak, who is the MP for Richmond and Northallerton, thanked Johnson in Parliament for visiting his farming constituents about the impact of livestock and equipment crime on their lives and health.
He added: “I am grateful to North Yorkshire Police for all their hard work, and for the recent funding uplift for the national rural crime unit, but does the minister agree with me on the importance of implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and, more broadly, ensuring that rural areas get the attention they deserve?”
Johnson answered: “As I have said a number of times in this House, we support the implementation of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act, and we plan to bring forward regulations shortly.”
An encouraging move
The National Construction & Agriculture Theft Team (NCATT), a specialist police unit focused on recovering stolen plant and agricultural equipment, recovered almost £6.3m of stolen plant and equipment in 2023 and £10.5m in 2024, as well as making 254 arrests.
Construction, farming and insurance companies, including the Construction Equipment Association (CEA), have supported the development of the Act from the outset.
The CESAR Scheme, which is owned by the CEA and Datatag and is recognised as an effective deterrent to theft, is expected to have an important role when the Act’s secondary legislation is implemented.
Vicky Bell, CEA’s CEO, said: “It’s encouraging to see the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act firmly on the parliamentary agenda. Within the construction equipment sector, theft continues to cause serious disruption and financial loss.
“The CEA is actively working with government and policing teams to help shape the secondary legislation in a way that is pragmatic and achievable for both manufacturers and those tasked with enforcement. We want to ensure that what’s introduced is effective on the ground and takes full account of the systems and practices already widely in use across our industry.”
