On The Tools Joins Forces With Trades United At Westminster Rally

• On The Tools Joins Forces with Trades United to Combat Tool Theft at Westminster Rally

On The Tools, the UK’s largest community for tradespeople, is supporting Trades United’s upcoming van rally in Westminster on 3rd February 2025 to demand decisive government action against the growing tool theft crisis. The event highlights a renewed push for stronger legislation to protect tradespeople’s livelihoods and well-being.

The rally, which starts at Brent Cross at 11:00 AM and culminates at Parliament Square by noon, will bring tradespeople together to protest inadequate enforcement of theft laws. Participants will stage a ‘go-slow’ convoy to symbolically disrupt traffic and call attention to the urgent need for change.

An LED digital display van will also join the convoy. The mobile banner, sponsored by On The Tools, will highlight statistics uncovered in their 2022 ‘Tradespeople Against Tool Theft White Paper’ showcasing the true scale and impact of the crime.

Letter to MPs
On The Tools is driving public engagement by providing a pre-drafted letter that anyone can send to their MP. The letter details the devastating financial and emotional impact of tool theft on tradespeople and calls for amendments to sentencing guidelines, stricter regulation of resale markets, and more robust enforcement measures.

Tool theft in construction
In 2022, On The Tools published the Tradespeople Against Tool Theft White Paper, exposing that 78% of tradespeople had experienced tool theft, with 94% of stolen tools never recovered. Recent insights from the community show that the situation has not improved three years on, with 85% worrying daily or weekly about tool theft. Despite widespread concern and political attention, critical tools remain excluded from key legislation like the Equipment Theft Prevention Act 2023.

The 2024 rally
Last year’s Trades United rally garnered significant attention from across the political spectrum, with representatives from major parties acknowledging the severity of the construction skills shortage and pledging support for change. While these responses came in the lead-up to the general election, tangible action to address the crisis has yet to materialise, leaving tradespeople and industry leaders continuing to call for meaningful reforms.

Lee Wilcox, CEO of On The Tools, said: “Tool theft is a crisis that affects not only tradespeople’s livelihoods but also their mental health and family stability. It’s an epidemic we can no longer ignore. On The Tools is proud to support this rally and provide practical ways for people to amplify their voices. Change is long overdue, and it’s time for the government to act decisively.”

Shoaib Awan, founder of Trades United, said: “We need the government to come forward and support and protect hard-working tradespeople and their livelihoods by implementing the law which this country has in place when it comes to theft.”

Take action

Tradespeople and supporters can:

• Participate in the rally on 3rd February to make their voices heard.
  
  
• Find their MP’s contact details here: https://members.parliament.uk/constituencies and attach this letter: https://bit.ly/3ClvI6Z.
  
  
• Support the rally by donating to the cause: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tradesunited03feb2025.

Source : On The Tools

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