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Raids on scrap yards in bid to clamp down on theft of metal (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Raids on scrap yards in bid to clamp down on theft of metal
3:35pm Friday 26th June 2009
A CANNABIS farm and a stolen van were seized by police during raids on scrap yards in Darlington this week.
The swoops failed to find any stolen scrap, but police said the intelligence gathered meant the raids were a success.
Stolen scrap metal worth an estimated £360m a year is stolen across the country. By targeting scrap yards, police hope to work with owners operating legitimately and close down illegal operations to ensure criminals have nowhere to sell stolen metal.
The raids are part of the second phase of a 12-month pilot scheme which could be extended nationally.
In Darlington, police arrested a man in connection with a stolen vehicle following raids on four scrap yards on the Cleveland Trading Estate in Forge Way.
A 25-plant cannabis farm was found at another scrap yard in the town, along with two packages of white powder and a number of pills which police believe are class A drugs.
The operation also covered Hartlepool, though nothing was seized during raids there.
The raids were a combined effort between British Transport Police, Cleveland Police and the Environment Agency.
Det Supt Ashley Croft said the North-East was a hot-spot for this type of crime.
“I would call it a success because of the intelligence we have got as a result, as well as the stolen vehicle and drugs factory. We are talking about serious crime.”
“Most people won’t realise that the thefts of metal are taking place at all, but a good many will suffer from the consequences,” he said.
“These can include losing power if the national grid is affected or the railway network being delayed.
“It is often low-level crime, but the consequences to communities can be serious. We are also seeing serious, organised crime groups diversifying into metal theft.
“We want to work with legitimate scrap metal businesses,” he said. “But where we find people operating illegally, we will bring the full force of the law to bear against them.
“They could be putting their businesses and livelihoods at risk.
We will not only seek to arrest them, but to take their business from them, as well as their proceeds from crime.”
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