Soaring prices have seen the theft of metal from farms and rural firms grow to epidemic proportions over recent months.
Overhead cables, copper and even barbed wire and other fencing have been stripped from villages and rural areas for the value of the scrap.
In a bid to thwart the thieves, Lancashire MP Graham Jones brought his Metal Theft (Protection) Bill before the House of Commons last month.
It is due to have its second reading on 20 January.
The Private Member's Bill is being supported by the Country Land and Business Association, which says it offers a solution to the problem.
"Scrap metal is currently big business and it's no longer restricted to the theft of lead from the church roof," said CLA spokesman Andrew Shirley.
Theft was flourishing because the regulatory framework surrounding metal recycling is too weak said Mr Shirley.
In combination with the elevated international price of metal, the lack of regulation had effectively created an incentive to steal.
"Farmyards and rural businesses have always been a prime target for robberies and landowners are currently suffering an epidemic of metal theft.
"Mr Jones's planned changes to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 and his other proposals are essential if this blight is to be ended quickly and effectively."
The Metal (Protection) Bill proposes six changes.
It would replace the current registration scheme with a robust licensing regime, with scrap metal dealers paying a fee to fund regulation.
Secondly, it would allow property obtained through theft to be regarded as criminal assets – enabling prosecution under Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Thirdly, police authorities would be granted the power to search and investigate all premises owned and operated by a scrap metal dealer.
They would also be able to close scrap metal dealers where criminally obtained materials had been discovered.
Fourthly, the trade in scrap metals would be restricted to cashless payments.
Fifthly, magistrates would be granted powers to add licence restrictions and prevent closed yards from reopening.
Finally, the Theft Act and related laws would be amended so sentencing would be proportionate to the consequences of the crime, not just the metal value.
"The true cost of the theft is more than the value of the items taken," said Mr Shirley.
Consequential losses included lost production time, repairing damage caused and livestock straying due to gates left open or fencing taken down.
