Cameron urged to clean up scrap metal trade

David Cameron has been asked to speed up reforms to the scrap metal industry – including a ban on cash payments to sellers – to combat an epidemic of thefts, including of a sculpture by Barbara Hepworth from a London park.

Hepworth's estate has now pledged a £4,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the thieves, adding to the £1,000 already offered by Southwark Council.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Southwark's Labour leader Peter John, the Liberal Democrat leader Anood al-Samerai and the leader of the Conservative group Lewis Robinson joined in appealing for tough new regulations to end "unscrupulous practices" in the scrap metal trade.