More than 100 police officers joined forces with specialist staff from partner agencies to conduct one of the biggest metal theft operations ever undertaken in the county.
The operation, which ran for 24 hours from 7am on Thursday 11 October 2012, was part of a national day of action under Operation Tornado, a country-wide initiative aimed at disrupting metal theft across the UK.
Since April 2012, when Operation Tornado was introduced across North Yorkshire and the City of York, North Yorkshire Police has recorded a 53% reduction in metal theft compared to the same period last year.
The latest blitz drew on the expertise of various police units, the Environment Agency, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, HM Revenue and Customs, the Benefits Agency and Hambleton and Richmondshire Rural Watch.
Officers targeted travelling criminals, scrap carriers, illegal fuel, vehicle safety and scrap metal dealers. Safer Neighbourhood Teams also carried out free catalytic converter marking and handed out crime prevention advice to members of the public.
Road-side checks were carried out on vehicles travelling through North Yorkshire on the main arterial routes including the A1 from the Durham to the West Yorkshire border.
A multi-agency check point was set up at the junction of the A1 and A61 near Ripon which saw police officers stop all vehicles capable of carrying scrap metal. They were checked for any suspected stolen goods, for roadworthiness and to ensure they had the correct licence and insurance.
The Environment Agency, the Department of Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs carried out checks to ensure the vehicles and drivers were properly licensed to carry scrap, were using the correct fuel and that no benefit offences were committed.
A similar vehicle check point was set up at Scotch Corner where police officers and specialist staff from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency stopped vehicles to check their roadworthiness and for suspected stolen goods.
The force’s Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) team also took part in the operation with checks across the main routes through the county. ANPR works by reading a vehicle’s number plate and checking against a database of vehicles which are uninsured, untaxed or linked to criminality.
The ANPR van and intercept team were deployed on the A1 near Barton to capture any travelling criminals entering North Yorkshire from the north, while mobile ANPR cameras were used on other routes through the county.
Police carried out visits to scrap metal dealers to ensure compliance with the identification scheme launched under Operation Tornado and to check their record keeping.
It also gave officers a chance to build on the good relationships already established with the majority of the county’s scrap dealers.
George Sanderson from KPC Recycling, MOT Repairs and Services near Eggborough, signed up to Operation Tornado earlier this year and believes it has gone a long way to help reduce metal theft. He said: “The identification scheme is a very good idea to help cut down on metal theft. Which is good news for legitimate dealers.”
Safer Neighbourhood Teams and the Safer York Partnership also carried out free catalytic converter marking for motorists at Halfords in York. Police officers and PCSOs also carried out visits to local scrap dealers.
Roads policing officers and Safer Neighbourhood Teams patrolled the county borders during the night with colleagues from neighbouring forces and local volunteers from Country Watch schemes.
Temporary Chief Inspector Sarah Jane Sanderson, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “The good news is we have a significant reduction in metal theft, the bad news for criminals is that we will not stop in our quest to disrupt their activity and keep them out of North Yorkshire and the City of York.
“The day of action highlights the work which is going on every day across the county to keep our communities as safe as possible.”
Results
•76 vehicles stopped
•10 people reported for summons – 8 for vehicle defects 2 for waste carrier licence offences
•4 drivers fined for using illegal fuel (red diesel)
•5 drivers had vehicle seized for having no insurance
•4 offences relating to itinerant scrap metal carriers
•10 fixed penalty notices issued for various offences
•8 vehicles issued with prohibition notices for defects
•1 stolen vehicle recovered
The operation coincided with the news that legislative change is on the way.
Changes to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act will outlaw all cash transactions at metal recycling yards across England and Wales and there will be a significant increase in fines for those dealers who fail to abide by the rules.
Association of Chief Police Officers’ lead on metal theft, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Crowther, said:
“For some time police forces and colleagues across several industries have called for tougher legislation in respect of metal theft.
“The revision of the LASPO Act will provide us with the first significant change in metal recycling legislation since 1964.
“The measures introduced will seriously curtail the market for stolen metal as there will now be a clear audit trail back to those bringing commodities into recycling yards and severe sanctions for those who step out of line.”
DCC Crowther added: “Time is up for the thieves who continue to steal from our infrastructure and communities.
“The day of action, on 11 October, saw police and partners across the UK taking positive action against thieves: paying visits to scrap metal recyclers to remind them of their responsibilities and working together with communities to drive home the message that metal theft is socially unacceptable.”
Members of the public can help by reporting any suspicious behaviour to the police on 101. Or, you can give information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. If you see a crime in progress, always call 999.