METAL theft in Kent has more than halved this year, according to new figures.
Between January and August a total of 640 incidents of metal theft were reported compared to 1412 for the same period in 2012 – a fall of almost 55 per cent.
In June 2012 Kent Police introduced a voluntary scheme to encourage dealers to ask for proof of identity and last year the 1964 Scrap Metal Dealers Act was amended so dealers can no longer deal in cash.
The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, implemented at the start of this month, means vehicle salvage operators and mobile collectors are also banned from using cash and the latter are required to have a separate licence for every district they want to operate in.
Julie Argent, Kent Police crime reduction project manager for partnerships and communities, said: "Reports of metal thefts have fallen because those involved know they have a far greater chance of being caught.
"In 2011 we had a total of 2994 reported thefts. This had fallen to 1865 for 2012 and we expect further significant reductions by the end of this year."
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