Minister backs Pawnbrokers in the fight against crime

16/02/2015

The Minister for Crime Prevention, Lynne Featherstone MP, has backed the work of members of the National Pawnbrokers Association (NPA) in ensuring crime is tackled across all local communities.

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

This includes NPA members across the country following the “Gold Standard” – a charter for crime prevention that has been agreed between the Home Office, the police, the NPA and other trade organisations. Steps taken by NPA members under this charter include:

  • Obtaining a name and address of every customer;
  • Verifying customer ID including via the use of photographic ID;
  • Provision of CCTV in stores;
  • Help ensure goods are not stolen by taking a range of precautions including the use of UV lights to check for security marking.

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.

Crime Prevention Minister Lynne Featherstone said:

“Crime is down by more than a fifth under the coalition government according to the independent Crime Survey for England and Wales.

“However, we are not complacent. That is why the Home Office created a Crime Prevention Panel of industry leaders, police, charities and academics who are spearheading our understanding of today’s emerging crime trends. The National Pawnbrokers Association is a member of this panel."

“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."

“I also welcome the NPA’s work to prevent gold jewellery being stolen by heartless thieves who think nothing of the distress they inflict on their victims.”

National Pawnbrokers Association Chief Executive, Ray Perry, added:

“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”.

- Ends -

Notes to Editors:

The National Pawnbrokers Association (NPA) was founded in 1892 and is the trade association representing pawnbrokers, from the large chains through to independents, in a £930m loan market growing year on year. It is the authoritative voice of the pawnbroking industry in the UK.

The NPA stands for expertise, fairness and transparency, professionalism and excellence. All our members are bound by our rules and a customer code of conduct. Pawnbroking is part of the credit industry and is regulated alongside banks and other lenders by the Consumer Credit Act 1974.