Over half a million pounds of silver stolen from churches in 2024

A worrying new trend of silver theft from churches has seen irreplaceable silverware worth over £500,000 stolen from churches across the UK over the last 12 months, including in:- Suffolk, Northamptonshire, the West Midlands, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire.

Churches have long been targeted by thieves stripping copper and lead from their roofs, but this emerging issue poses a threat to priceless historical and religious artefacts.

In 1 of the most high profile incidents was Sherborne Abbey, in Dorset, which was targeted in August 2024, with thieves stealing valuable silver communion items; including:- a processional cross, two virges, and a bishop's crosier;causing significant damage and distress to the local church community.

Speaking of the break-in, Sherborne Abbey's Rector The Reverend Martin Lee, said:- "1 thing is quite clear:- they cased the joint, as it were, beforehand. The Abbey is open every day, and they would have had a warm welcome from the people on the door. They were cared for as they came in, when we now know that their intention was to see how they could steal from us."

Holy Trinity Church in Bradford on Avon, a Grade I listed 12th century church, also fell victim to theft, losing a silver plate, chalices, and other sacred items.

Other break-ins across the country have left a trail of destruction, with stained glass windows shattered, heavy oak doors forced open with angle grinders, and even explosives used to access safes, which has left churches devastated in their wake.

The huge spike in thefts has led to specialist insurer Ecclesiastical urging churches to review and strengthen their security measures to protect their property from further attacks.

Helen Richards, church operations director at specialist insurer Ecclesiastical Insurance, said:- "It's appalling that thieves would target churches with zero regard for the impact they have. Many of the items stolen are irreplaceable and have both historical and sentimental importance. This loss of heritage and the impact on the church and its community is devastating. Many of these stolen items are donated to the church and can be hundreds of years old, used by generations of churchgoers, meaning on top of the considerable distress there is the loss of history as these irreplaceable items are lost forever. There is a real risk the economic challenges in the UK and high value of silver could see an increase in thefts from historical buildings such as churches, so we're urging churches across the country take steps to protect themselves and follow our guidance."

Ecclesiastical's risk management team has developed guidance as part of its call to review existing security arrangements and help churches protect themselves from potential break ins. The advice includes:-

Consider installing electronic security protections in the church, such as intruder alarms or remote video surveillance systems, linked to a monitoring centre

Make sure any safes are high quality and modern with a Euro rating between:- 0 and 7 and that they are permanently fixed to a wall or floor to make them more difficult to remove

Ensure items are recorded in the church inventory and security marked using SmartWater, which will assist recovery if stolen

Keep portable valuable items in a secure area, the safe where practical, or a locked vestry or similar area when not in use

Where this is not possible consider keeping items at the home of a church member (which would be covered by Ecclesiastical)

Encourage the local community to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity as thieves may complete reconnaissance prior to a theft

Helen continued:- "Although churches will undoubtedly be concerned about this issue, there are steps they can take to help protect themselves. Storing valuables in a high-quality modern suitable safe in a secure area of the church or storing items off site where suitable alternative security arrangements can be made and with the approval of church insurers for example. For any of our church customers concerned by these recent events, our risk advice line is open:- Monday to Friday, from:- 9am to 5pm, on:- 03456007531, or they can email:- Risk.Advice@Ecclesiastical.Com. More information can be found at our website."

Voters in North West overwhelmingly back Government's flagship workers' rights legislation

THE TUC and Hope Not Hate have published a new mega poll, which shows voters in the North West, including:- Conservative and Reform voters; overwhelmingly support key policies in the Government's Employment Rights Bill.

The poll of over 21,000 people comes after criticisms of the Employment Rights Bill from the Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, Reform leader Nigel Farage and parts of the business lobby.

The TUC says it shows opponents of the Employment Rights Bill are:- "a world away" from the British public.

The mega poll shows that in the North West:-

• 73% of people support a ban on zero hours contracts
  

• 76% of people support giving all workers the right to statutory sick pay, ensuring it is paid from the 1st day of sick leave
  

• 75% of people support giving all workers protection from unfair dismissal from day 1
  

• 76% of people support making it easier for workers to work flexibly

The new MRP modelled support at a constituency level for 2 key policies from the legislation – banning zero hours contracts and giving all workers sick pay from day 1 – and reveals that voters in every single constituency would be projected to support the policies.

Support for stronger workers' rights across the political spectrum

The national findings from the poll show that supporters of all the main political parties in England support key policies in the Employment Rights Bill.

This includes around support from nearly two-thirds of both Reform and Conservative voters in the 2024 election for some of the bill's flagship policies. This includes:-

• 65% of Reform and 63% of Conservative voters support banning zero hours contracts.
  

• 64% of Reform and 62% of Conservative voters support giving all workers the right to statutory sick pay, and ensuring it is paid from the 1st day
  

• 62% of Reform and 62% of Conservative voters giving all workers protection from unfair dismissal from the 1st day in the job
  

• 63% of Reform and 64% of Conservative voters support making it easier to work flexibly

Reform is defying its own voters on workers' rights

The TUC says the poll shows how Reform is defying its own voters and constituents by opposing the Employment Rights Bill.

The new poll shows that workers' rights laws are hugely popular with Reform voters from 2024 as well as Reform-leaning voters (those who would vote Reform if there was an election tomorrow).

In every seat Reform came second in the North West, there is significant support for banning zero hours contracts and giving sick pay to everyone from day 1:-

Ashton-under-Lyne:-

• 73% support banning zero hours contracts
  

• 72% support day 1 sick pay

Blackley and Middleton South:-

• 73% support banning zero hours contracts
  

• 72% support day 1 sick pay

Blackpool South:-

• 70% support banning zero hours contracts
  

• 73% support day 1 sick pay

Bolton South and Walkden:-

• 69% support banning zero hours contracts
  

• 72% support day 1 sick pay

Bury South:-

• 71% support banning zero hours contracts
  

• 70% support day 1 sick pay

Leigh and Atherton:-

• 70% support banning zero hours contracts
  

• 71% support day 1 sick pay

Manchester:-

• 73% support banning zero hours contracts
  

• 72% support day 1 sick pay

Salford:-

• 72% support banning zero hours contracts
  

• 71% support day 1 sick pay

Wigan:-

• 73% support banning zero hours contracts
  

• 73% support day 1 sick pay

Liverpool Garston:-

• 74% support banning zero hours contracts
  

• 72% support day 1 sick pay

Liverpool Walton:-

• 75% support banning zero hours contracts
  

• 71% support day 1 sick pay

TUC North West regional secretary for Jay McKenna said:- "Make no mistake. The Government's landmark Employment Rights Bill is a vote winner. Opponents of the Bill are with a world away from the public here in the North West. These policies are massively popular right across the political spectrum. After the failed Conservative era of a low-rights, low-pay, and low-growth economy, voters can see the importance of making work pay and ending the scourge of insecure work. That's why the Government must ignore the noise and deliver the Employment Rights Bill in full. Those who defend the broken status quo are putting their own vested interests above working people."

On Reform defying their voters, Jay added:- "Reform is defying its own voters and constituents on workers' rights. Reform MPs voted against the Employment Rights Bill at every stage. Nigel Farage and Reform aren't on the side of working people – they're on the side of bad bosses, zero hours contracts and fire and rehire."

Hope Not Hate CEO Nick Lowles also told us:- "Reform UK is emerging as a major political force in Britain, and a serious threat to the Labour Government's majority. Reform voters aren't a homogenous bloc - a sizeable number of these voters are actually supportive of multiculturalism and immigration. But 1 thing most Reform voters have in common is their support for stronger rights at work - from banning zero hours contracts to making it easier for workers to work flexibly. Measures like these are an antidote to the sense of pessimism tempting voters to Reform UK"

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