Overview

The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill aims to reduce the theft and resale of equipment used by tradespeople and businesses in the agricultural and commercial sectors. It does this by introducing regulations that control the sale of certain types of equipment and require sellers to keep records of sales.

Description

This bill grants the Secretary of State the power to create regulations to control the sale of specified equipment. These regulations will focus on equipment like:

• Mechanically propelled vehicles used off-road with engines of at least 250 cubic centimeters or two kilowatts and travelling on more than two wheels or tracks.
• Other equipment primarily used in agriculture or commercial activities.

Regulations may require the equipment to have:

• An anti-theft device preventing operation.
• A unique identifier and a visible indication of this identifier.

The bill also allows for regulations requiring sellers to record specific information about the sale, such as the buyer's details, equipment description, unique identifier details, and date of sale. This information would need to be kept for a specified period. The bill establishes that failure to comply with these regulations will be a punishable offense. Existing legislation, such as the Consumer Rights Act 2015, will be amended to provide enforcement authorities (local weights and measures authorities or district councils) with the necessary powers.

Importantly, the bill contains exemptions for sales solely for onward sale by the buyer and for equipment previously used for its intended purpose.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending figures. The costs will likely involve developing and implementing the regulations, enforcement, and potential legal challenges.

Groups Affected

This bill will affect:

• Sellers of specified equipment: They will need to comply with new regulations regarding sales and record-keeping, potentially incurring administrative costs and facing penalties for non-compliance.
• Buyers of specified equipment: May experience some changes in purchasing processes due to the new regulations.
• Tradespeople and agricultural businesses: May benefit from reduced equipment theft, potentially leading to cost savings.
• Enforcement authorities: Will be responsible for enforcing the new regulations, requiring additional resources and training.

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