Minister backs pawnbrokers in the fight against crime

The minister for crime prevention, Lynne Featherstone, has backed the work of members of the National Pawnbrokers Associations (NPA) in ensuring crime is tackled across local communities. 

The public support came after a series of steps by the NPA – following discussions with the Home Office – to tackle crime and the fear of crime.

NPA members across the country will now follow the ‘Gold Standard’ – a charter for crime prevention that has been agreed with the Home Office, the police, the NPA and other trade organisations.

Steps taken under the charter for NPA members will include obtaining a name and address of every customer, verifying customer ID (including the use of photographic ID), and the provision of CCTV in stores.

NPA members will also help ensure goods are not stolen by taking a range of precautions including the use of UV lights to check for markings.

In addition, NPA members are supporting action in response to criminals stealing family gold jewellery from some Asian communities. Beginning in the London area, a number of NPA members are offering secure storage facilities so that jewellery is kept safe from the hands of criminals.

Featherstone said: “It is vital that shopkeepers in general, and pawnbrokers as well, do all they can to deter and disrupt criminal activity and the NPA’s ‘Gold Standard’ charter offers valuable guidance on sensible steps to take.”

Ray Perry, the NPA’s chief executive, said: “We are grateful to the minister for supporting the work of NPA members in the fight against crime. The pawnbroking industry is a modern, forward-looking sector and we will not tolerate criminals who attempt to defraud our industry and are a blight to local communities”.