Lib Dems call for ‘Operation Ironclad’ to bring the hammer down on tool thieves

Today on a visit to Sutton, Lib Dem Leader Ed Davey will call for ‘Operation Ironclad’, a series of policies to bring the hammer down on tool thieves, whose crimes affect hundreds of tradespeople every year. This includes:

• A dedicated specialist unit in the Metropolitan Police to map intelligence across the city and support borough operations.
• Regular police and trading presence at known high risk resell events and stronger penalties for sales organisers who fail to comply with record keeping. 
• Mandatory anti-theft features to be introduced for vehicle manufacturers for vehicles marketed to traders.
• A proper return to community policing with a police counter accessible in every community.

According to data uncovered by the Liberal Democrats between 2019 and 2025, there were over 57,000 cases of tool theft. Shockingly, 99% (56,801) of these cases were closed without a suspect being charged, with 93% (53,531)  of cases being closed without a suspect having even been identified.

When tradespeople have their tools stolen, many struggle to reclaim or replace their tools which can cause immense stress and often lead to a loss of income. The Liberal Democrats have warned that a lack of action is having “catastrophic impacts” on tradespeople across the Capital.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:

“For too long, the gangs targeting our tradespeople have been allowed to operate with impunity while the government and the Mayor look the other way. When someone has their tools stolen, it doesn’t just impact their work. It can have a catastrophic impact on their livelihood.

“It is nothing short of a scandal that 99% of these crimes go unpunished. This is why we’re launching Operation Ironclad to create a specialist Met Police unit and a series of other measures to ensure a hard day’s work isn’t wiped out by a criminal.”

Liberal Democrat London Spokesperson and MP for Sutton & Cheam Luke Taylor added:

“Here in Sutton, I have heard heartbreaking stories from local tradespeople who are left without the means to pay their next rent check or put food on the table for their family.

“We have put forward a serious set of proposals to tackle this crime and we urge the Mayor and the Government to finally take their heads out of the sand and adopt them.

“Here in London, Labour have been soft on crimes like tool theft for too long. I suspect they may be in for a rude awakening this May.”