ID scheme to tackle metal theft menace (From Essex County Standard)

ID scheme to tackle metal theft menace

5:59pm Wednesday 13th June 2012 in News By Andrea Collitt

NEW measures to combat the increasing problem of metal theft are being introduced by Essex Police.

Operation Tornado, spearheaded by the Association of Chief Police Officers, will aim to make it easier to trace sellers of stolen metal through an identification scheme.

Tornado spokesman, Chief Insp Robin Edwards, said: “From now on, those selling scrap metal to participating dealers in the region will be required to provide proof of their identity – either a photocard driving licence including an address, or a passport or national ID card, supported by a utility bill, which must be under three months old and show their address.

“Operation Tornado is one of a number of measures currently being explored to restrict the sale and movement of stolen metal.

“It has been designed not to inhibit those dealers who operate legitimate businesses, but to remove unscrupulous dealers who operate outside the law.

“We are hoping all registered scrap metal dealers in the region will sign up to be involved to help fight the stolen metal trade and make it more difficult for thieves to make money by targeting our communities for metal.”

Metal thieves have caused misery by stealing lead from church and school roofs and homes. Commuters have suffered serious delays after thieves stole vital metal from railway lines.

Operation Tornado will run in Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.