Wyre Forest scrap metal dealers working legally spot checks show (From Dudley News)

Wyre Forest scrap metal dealers working legally spot checks show

4:03pm Wednesday 16th May 2012 in Business Daily

ALL scrap metal dealers visited during spot checks by police in Kidderminster and Stourport were found to be working within the law.

Accompanied by partner agencies, police carried out the checks as part of ongoing efforts to tackle the problem of metal theft.

The Environment Agency, Wyre Forest District Council, Network Rail and British Transport helped carry out checks at five businesses in the area on Monday.

The visits were made in conjunction with a representative from SmartWater, who tested for the presence of forensic coding solutions, which might indicate whether metal had been stolen.

The proprietors of the scrap yards which passed the test said that they welcomed such checks.

PC Andy Wallace, who took part in the operation, said: "Scrap metal dealers who are registered record the names and addresses of those selling to them, the quantity and type of material and the details of any vehicle they are using.

“e police and other agencies have the power to go into these premises, inspect metal and where there is evidence that it is stolen use the recorded information to trace thieves.

"Metal dealers who comply in this way deter thieves from trying to sell on stolen property there and if you remove the market then there's no point in stealing the metal in the first place.

"We welcome the support we do receive from those dealers who do work within the law, allowing us to continue investigating and detecting offences.

"Metal thieves have caused misery for countless thousands of people nationwide. The railways have experienced significant issues for some time and recently criminals have been diversifying and targeting metal from other sources such as power cables, utility pipes, phone cabling, homes and businesses and catalytic converters from vehicles.

"Operations like the one on Monday reassure the public that we are tackling the problem although it is only example of the action we are taking, which also includes roadside checks on vehicles used to transport scrap metal."

PC Wallace added that further operations were planned. Anyone with information about metal thefts can contact West Mercia Police directly on 101 or via the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.