What is the Theft of Tools of Trade Sentencing Bill?

The second reading of the Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill is set to take place on July 4.

Due to the impact tool theft has on tradespeople’s livelihoods, many in the construction sector feel that the punishment for tool theft isn’t severe enough for the crime.

The Bill looks to impose harsher penalties for the theft of tools used in trades.

Rob Rees, divisional director at Markel Direct, a trades insurance provider, explains “The purpose of this Bill is to amend current sentencing guidelines to impose harsher penalties for the theft of tools used in trades. Currently, tool theft is categorised as ‘harm category 3’, because most instances of theft are of a value under £10,000. The Bill proposes that tool theft should be reclassified as causing ‘significant additional harm’ to the victim of the theft, which would enable magistrates to increase the severity of the offence to ‘harm category 2’ when it comes to the sentencing – even if the value of the theft is under £10,000.

“Additionally, the Bill is looking to standardise the calculation of financial loss to include not only the physical cost of the tool itself, but the additional costs that often come with tool theft such as: The cost of repairs to any vehicle from which the tools were stolen such as fixing damage to a van’s locks, Loss of earnings resulting from the theft such as being unable to work, and the cost of any interruption of business resulting from the theft such as being unable to fulfil a contract”

The second reading takes place on the 4th July 2025, and will be the first opportunity for MPs to debate the main principles of the Bill.

Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North and the MP responsible for the bill, will open the second reading debate.

When the debate concludes, the Commons decides whether a Bill should be progressed to the next stage by voting.