A SNIPEF petition calling for a ban on the sale of used power tools at car boot sales has been stopped due to pre-election purdah rules.

Published in March, the petition had gained over 46,000 signatories before being closed on 30 May, following the announcement of a General Election by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Tool theft is a persistent issue causing significant financial losses and operational disruptions across the construction sector. A Direct Line for Business study reveals that tool theft in the UK surged by 54% from 2017 to 2022, with businesses losing an average of £1,692 worth of tools per incident.


Additionally, research from Simply Business found that 98% of individuals within the construction sector have fallen victim to tool theft, with 51% experiencing multiple incidents. The annual cost of tool theft in the construction sector alone is estimated to exceed £100 million.

In a limited response, the government passed the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, aimed at imposing stricter controls on the sale and ownership of equipment, including tools used in agriculture and construction. Despite this, stolen tools continue to be sold at car boot sales, market stalls and pubs, continuing the cycle of theft.

A new petition is expected to be published shortly after the election. In the meantime, SNIPEF is keen to support this important issue and raise it directly with the UK and devolved governments. We are asking for member feedback in a brief three-question survey to allow us to present our case for greater government action.

Take the survey: forms.office.com/e/A80TC9nfjb