|
Launch of campaign |
|
Church set to beat metal theft with the help of Griff the Gargoyle
Manchester Cathedral has hosted the launch of a campaign that hopes to reduce metal theft from church buildings. The campaign introduces a Church Watch scheme to Greater Manchester. Church Watch encourages neighbours who live opposite church buildings to report any suspicious behaviour to the police or members of the congregation. Posters featuring ‘Griff the Gargoyle’ will be placed on church railings warning thieves that neighbours are watching them and that the police will be called. Gargoyles are the traditional guardians of the building on which they are placed and it is hoped the unusual image we be a powerful reminder to thieves that they are being watched by unseen eyes.
Cathedral and churches stripped Manchester Cathedral was the first cathedral to have its lead stripped in August 2008. Ten lead drain pipes were ripped from the side of the cathedral and a large section of lead removed from its roof, causing rainwater damage. The repairs cost £23,000. The police caught the thieves following a call from a passer by who saw the robbery taking place.
The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, the Very Revd Rogers Govender, said “I welcome BeatMetalTheft.org. I hope the emphasis on protecting our buildings, watching for theft and reporting suspicious behaviour to the police will result in criminals thinking twice. They never know who is watching them and with the help of our neighbours, police and insurers, action will be taken.”
David Marshall, spokesperson for the Diocese of Manchester, said; “Not since Henry 8th closed the monasteries has so much lead been stripped from so many church roofs. 400 years ago, when many monasteries were closed, they were plundered for metal. Today the thieves have returned. We hope beatmetaltheft.org will help secure our buildings.”
In January 2008, thieves stripped the roof of St George's Parish Church, in Tyldesley, Wigan. Although the amount of lead stolen was relatively small, the rain that leaked through the exposed rood beams of the grade-II listed church caused damage totalling more than £35,000.
Neighbours want to be ‘Church Watchers’
A survey by YouGov found that 86% of the public would call the police if they saw someone attacking a church. 24% said they would shout or approach thieves. 66% of the general public, regardless of whether they are Christian or attend church, would be concerned if their local church fell into disrepair. 40% feel that their local church is an important part of their community’s history and heritage.
About Lead theft Metal theft is a growing issue, driven by the rise in demand for the likes of lead, copper and titanium.
In April 2008 church insurer, EIG, received nearly 350 lead theft claims, with the total bill for theft of metal from churches running at around £14m since the beginning of 2007.
In Manchester there has been an explosion of thefts: 2005 5 claims costing £5000, 2007 26 claims costing £350,000 2008 122 claims costing £385,000
National figures Ecclesiastical has received more than 1,800 claims nationally at a cost of more than £5.8m for the theft of mainly lead from church roofs, as well as other items from within the churches. The scrap metal itself holds relatively little financial reward for the thieves, however the break-ins and thefts are causing substantial damage to buildings resulting in repair bills of tens of thousands of pounds.
The low risk of getting caught and the fact that stealing metal from churches is relatively easy has made churches a target for criminals. Controls to prevent scrap merchants from buying stolen metals are weak and difficult to enforce. Although UK policing has recognised the problem and a task force is operating across the country, it is resource-intensive work.
EIG has been lobbying MPs and the police to move the issue further up their agenda. In January, Home Office Minister Alan Campbell, announced the setting up of a new National Metal Theft Crime Unit which was piloted for six weeks to clamp down on rogue scrap metal dealers who were illegally handling metal stolen from church roofs, man-hole covers and even telephone lines.
|
