Hands Off Our Church Roofs!
Churches across the country are being blighted by the theft of lead and copper from their roofs. For criminals keen to cash in on the high price of scrap metals, places of worship often make an obvious target.
It’s a rapidly growing problem that’s causing untold distress to our parish communities and it’s reaching epidemic proportions - 2011 was the worst year on record for the number of metal theft claims from churches.
In fact, over the past four years, metal theft claims from churches we insure have now exceeded £25m, with over 9,000 claims.
It’s not just the cost of replacing the materials that is the problem, it’s also the resultant damage - thieves have torn holes in roofs causing leaks and ripped stonework away from pinnacles and towers.
More than seven churches a day are falling victim to the attacks† and, unless we take action now, the wave of metal theft raids can only be set to intensify throughout 2012. It is costing our communities dearly and it simply can’t go on.
This is why we’ve launched the ‘Hands Off Our Church Roofs’ anti-metal theft campaign to deter criminals and protect places of worship from this crime.
What is the ‘Hands Off Our Church Roofs’ campaign?
Through the ‘Hands Off Our Church Roofs’ campaign, we’re determined to do all we can to reduce metal theft.
Over the last two years, we’ve been piloting the use of electronic roof security systems on churches in metal theft hot spots. The systems have proven to be very effective at preventing further losses and we are now taking this pilot initiative to the next stage. To demonstrate the effectiveness of roof alarms on a widespread basis, at a local level, and to encourage more churches to install alarms, we’re currently investing £500,000 to install systems on selected ‘at risk’ churches across dioceses in England, Wales and Scotland. Enough’s enough, we’re telling thieves ‘Hands Off Our Church Roofs’!
Once we have protected the selected churches in a diocese by installing the alarm systems, we’ll send an information pack to all other local churches. The pack will contain full details of how to find out more about the systems, including details of where parishes can go to see a system in operation near them, and we expect that this will encourage many more churches to install alarms as a solution to the church metal theft problem.
To help deter thieves further and raise awareness of our initiative, we’ll be enclosing two weather-resistant campaign posters campaign posters within each information pack which we would encourage all parishes to display externally as soon as they are received. Parishes will be able to request additional copies of the poster by calling 0845 600 9659 (limited stocks available). You can also download a copy of the poster here. When the alarms are installed in your area, why not print some off and display them in your local area (if you can), in places such as pubs, shops and post offices?
To help protect your church further, we would recommend that you also download a campaign logo and add it to your church’s website.
Protection for your church
Previously, we’ve launched a nationwide awareness campaign, sent free SmartWater* kits to churches, worked with the Church of England to lobby the police, parliament and scrap metal dealers, set up a dedicated section on our website that provides advice, produced detailed guidance notes and offered local advice through a dedicated Insurance Consultant and Surveyor team. Everything we could have done to make life harder for the thieves!
Despite all these steps, the attacks have continued to escalate to the point where it’s been described by the police as ‘organised crime’. However, electronic roof security systems now promise a new era in the fight against metal theft. They’re quick and easy to install and no other security measure has proven to offer a more effective answer to this problem.
Key benefits of the roof alarm system:
Highly effective at deterring metal theft as demonstrated in recent trials in theft hot spot areas
Specifically designed to detect and deter intruders before any damage is caused
The technology used is virtually invisible and reversible
Passive infrared (PIR) motion detectors to prevent false alarms
Requires no user intervention and works for years
Large roof areas can be covered cost effectively
If the security system is activated, a planned response based on your specific instructions is carried out − perfect for buildings in remote or rural locations.
You can discover how the roof alarm is being effectively used at a church in Salisbury diocese in the video and case study. You can also download an alarm factsheet.
Did you know?
If you install an Ecclesiastical-approved roof security system and have also applied a forensic marking system approved by us (such as SmartWater) to external metal, displayed signage and registered with the provider, we may be able to increase your metal theft cover, depending on your individual circumstances. The FAQ download has more information about this.
More information
If you would like to arrange a free** no-obligation alarm survey for your church, or if you have any queries about the alarm system, please contact us on 0845 600 9659 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays) or by email at roofalarms@ecclesiastical.com
For more information about the alarm system, including details about permissions and installations, please see the FAQ.
We would also recommend that you see for yourself how effective the system is at a church in your diocese. We will let you know when and where the alarm systems are installed in your area so that you can go and see one in operation.
For more information about metal theft, including advice on other practical measures you can take to protect your church, please see our metal theft and SmartWater web pages.
You can also contact your local Insurance Consultant and Surveyor for advice specific to your church.
† In 2011, according to claims figures available up to the end of December.
*The registration and use of SmartWater, or an alternative forensic marking system approved by us, is a policy condition on both our Parishguard and Hallguard policies.
**UK mainland only − travel expenses may be applicable offshore.
