❓ Question regarding streetlight outages due to copper theft, prosecutions, and penalties for offenders and scrap metal dealers. Two individuals charged with copper theft; no scrap metal dealers charged.
AnsweredQoN 813Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the ongoing streetlight outages across the Perth metropolitan area and surrounding regions, and I ask: (a) how may individuals have been identified, charged, and prosecuted in relation to copper cable theft from streetlighting infrastructure this year to date; (b) what is the prescribed penalty for such offences as referred to in (a); (c) how many scrap metal dealers have been identified, charged, and prosecuted for offences related to the receipt, possession, or sale of stolen copper cable from streetlighting infrastructure this year to date; and (d) what is the prescribed penalty for such offences as referred to in (c)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 December 2025
Responded by
Minister for the Environment representing the Minister for Police
Response time
7 days
(a) Two as of 27 October 2025, with prosecutions continuing.
(b) The prescribed penalty for stealing under Section 378 and possess stolen or unlawfully obtained property under Section 417 of the Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913(CC)is imprisonment for up to 7 years.
(c) 0. Scrap metal dealers are monitored under targeted enforcement strategies.
(d) Any relevant penalties would be applied under the Pawnbrokers and Second-hand Dealers Act 1994 , in cases where the dealer has not complied with licensing requirements (e.g., reporting of transactions to police etc.). Additionally, as per the Criminal Code (CC), the prescribed penalty for receiving stolen property under Section 414 CC is imprisonment for up to 14 years and possession of stolen property (S 417 CC) is imprisonment for up to 7 years.
(b) The prescribed penalty for stealing under Section 378 and possess stolen or unlawfully obtained property under Section 417 of the Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913(CC)is imprisonment for up to 7 years.
(c) 0. Scrap metal dealers are monitored under targeted enforcement strategies.
(d) Any relevant penalties would be applied under the Pawnbrokers and Second-hand Dealers Act 1994 , in cases where the dealer has not complied with licensing requirements (e.g., reporting of transactions to police etc.). Additionally, as per the Criminal Code (CC), the prescribed penalty for receiving stolen property under Section 414 CC is imprisonment for up to 14 years and possession of stolen property (S 417 CC) is imprisonment for up to 7 years.
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