Crime reduction 

Alternative roof covering

If a theft of metal occurs, consider the environmental and conservation benefits of replacing the metal with an alternative roof covering. In some circumstances, planning permission and listed building consent and approval from English Heritage and other conservation bodies may be required to do this.

Churches may be subject to faculty approval under their own denominational systems. English Heritage will consider each case on its merits.

They are only likely to approve the use of alternative materials if effective security measures to prevent further loss cannot be achieved and/or the heritage of the building does not warrant like-for-like replacement.

If sheet lead is put back on roofs, consider having it fixed using hollow rolled sheet rather than wood-core rolled sheet. The copper fixings used to secure hollow rolled sheet lead make it more difficult to remove.