Theft of Tools of Trade (Sentencing) Bill

This bill aims to increase criminal penalties for stealing tools and equipment used by tradespeople in their work. Currently, theft is sentenced based on the item's monetary value, which often results in low sentences for stolen tools despite their critical importance to workers' livelihoods. The bill proposes that courts should treat tool theft more seriously, potentially as a specific offense category, to reflect the disproportionate harm caused when selfemployed tradespeople lose their equipment and cannot work. This would result in harsher sentences than standard theft charges.