From signing our petition to attending our Parliamentary reception, from sharing your stories to spreading awareness, every supporter has boosted our campaign. When I stood in Parliament presenting our Ten-Minute Rule Bill last December, I carried your voices with me. Today, we’re seeing real results.
The new Sentencing Bill includes transformative changes that directly address what you’ve been telling me:
✅ Courts must now consider the FULL impact of tool theft – No longer just the value of stolen tools, but the emotional distress, lost income, business disruption, and mental health impacts that you know all too well.
✅ New restriction zones – Prolific thieves can now be banned from construction sites, tool retailers, and areas where tradespeople work and store equipment. Real protection where you need it most.
✅ Tougher, more flexible community sentences – Meaningful consequences that can include restrictions on freedoms such as driving, drinking in pubs, or attending sporting events.
✅ Better targeting of repeat offenders – Through expanded Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the serial criminals who cause so much damage across our communities.
You’ve shared with me the devastating reality: construction has the highest suicide rate of any profession in our country – around 4 times higher than any other occupation. When someone’s tools are stolen, they don’t just lose equipment; they lose their ability to earn, support their families, and maintain their wellbeing.
Let me remind you of what we’ve achieved together:
- December 2024: Launched with the Ten-Minute Rule Bill in Parliament
- January-March 2025: Our national petition gained momentum while we hosted that incredible Parliamentary reception with over 100 attendees
- May 2025: Raised the issue directly with the Prime Minister at PMQs
- June 2025: Held a Westminster Hall debate with many MPs in attendance
- July 2025: Worked closely with Ministers at the Ministry of Justice, having many conversations about what real change could look like
- August 2025: New sentencing powers announced!
Please share this news with your networks – let’s make sure every tradesperson knows that their voices are being heard, and that change is coming. Together, we’re building a justice system that truly protects victims of tool theft.
While this is a positive step, I want to be clear: this is just the beginning.
I remain fully committed to continuing to work with government departments to ensure these new powers are used effectively, looking at other ways of preventing this crime such as tool marking and increasing security around tool sales, and building on the momentum we’ve created to achieve even stronger protections
Our petition remains live at survey.labour.org.uk/tool-theft – please keep sharing it with colleagues, friends, and family. Every signature continues to strengthen our case.
When I started this campaign, I knew the statistics were shocking and the stories heartbreaking. But I also knew that with the wave of support I have received from the industry we could create real change. Thank you.
Amanda Martin MP