Ecclesiastical’s efforts to combat the nationwide epidemic of metal theft have been recognised at this year’s Risk Management Awards.
Ecclesiastical won the award for Best Use of Risk Management in Financial Services at the event in London’s Lancaster Hotel.
David Bonehill, Ecclesiastical’s claims and risk services director, said: “Metal theft has been a huge problem for our churches, heritage properties and schools over the last five years and we’ve been working extremely hard to identify the best security measures and help our customers tackle the issue. Winning this award is a great recognition of all the efforts undertaken by our regional insurance consultants and surveyors, underwriters, claims team, and everyone else in the company working hard to put an end to this epidemic destroying our heritage.
“Our risk management strategy has been to provide our customers with the best possible information and intelligence to help them protect themselves while actively encouraging the use of deterrents. We have also engaged with other industries and groups at the national level to ensure we’ve been central to the metal theft debate in this country.”
Ecclesiastical has championed the use of the forensic liquid SmartWater in the faith sector to deter metal theft and recently piloted the use of wireless roof alarm systems. The insurer also actively participates in the work carried out by groups such as the Association of Chief Police Officers’ Metal Theft Group and Church Buildings Council Theft of Metal Group.
Theft of metal has been a major issue in the UK since 2006 with churches, transport infrastructure and the utility sector being hit particularly hard. During 2007–2008, insurance claims to Ecclesiastical from churches for metal theft peaked at 350–400 per month. After a reprieve in 2009, the trend has been upward during 2010 and 2011.
Between January 2007 and May 2011, Ecclesiastical has received more than 9,500 theft of metal claims from churches costing the insurer more than £25m.
The Risk Management Awards are run in conjunction with the Institute of Risk Management, the world’s leading risk management education institute. The awards event took place on Wednesday 16 November 2011.
Source : Ecclesiastical
