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New bid to stop metal thieves in their tracks
CLAMPDOWN ... Chief Inspector Robin Edwards, left, and Ian Hetherington, director of the BMRA.
NEW measures to crack down on metal theft in South Tyneside are to be officially unveiled today.
Operation Tornado will make it easier for police to trace crooks who sell on stolen metal to scrap dealers.
Anyone who wants to sell metal will now have to provide photographic ID and proof of their address.
Dealers will also have to keep records of those from whom they buy metal of any type, available for checking by the authorities.
The idea is to stamp out the quick, anonymous and cash-in-hand sales of metal. Operation Tornado has been launched in the North East after the region was named as a hot spot for metal theft.
Last month, the Gazette told how there had been 270 metal thefts in South Tyneside in the first 11 months of last year, fuelled by rising prices.
The scale of the trend has caused Northumbria Police to record figures for metal theft separately, for the first time. Northumbria have teamed up with neighbouring forces, Durham and Cleveland, to launch the six-month trial.
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{http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/crime/new_rules_aim_to_tackle_metal_thieves_1_4099244 |New rules aim to tackle metal thieves|New rules aim to tackle metal thieves}
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The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Home Office, British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) and British Transport Police (BTP), are all on board.
ACPO spokesman, Chief Inspector Robin Edwards, said: “We are hoping that all the estimated 240 registered scrap metal dealers in the region will sign up to be involved in this trial to help fight the stolen metal trade, and make it more difficult for thieves to make money by targeting our communities for metal.”
Ian Hetherington, director general at the BMRA, added: “Metals theft is a real problem for the metals industry, and BMRA continues to advise the Government on the issue.
“BMRA and our members are actively supporting Operation Tornado.
“The measures being trialled are sensible, and provide the basis for a reform of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act – which we all want.”
Metal thieves have caused misery for countless thousands of people across the UK. Ten people died last year as a result of metal theft.
paul.clifford@northeast-press.co.uk
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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