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Crackdown on the scrap rogues
6:28am Tuesday 29th January 2008
Comments (56)Scrap metal dealers in Bradford have been raided by police as soaring world metal prices continue to fuel an explosion in lead and copper thefts.
Officers in the Bradford South division teamed up with the Environment Agency and Bradford Council's environmental enforcement team to visit four dealers in a clamp-down on rogue traders and unlicensed carriers.
In a warning shot to scrap dealers, officers checked through records and looked for stolen goods such as copper piping and lead flashing during yesterday's raids.
Police also visited 18 people suspected of being involved in metal thefts, with the purpose of disrupting criminal activity, gathering intelligence and informing them of the consequences of future offences.
Carriers arriving at scrap yards with metal were asked to prove they had a relevant waste carrier licence.
A total of 25 vehicles were stopped and five people were caught carrying scrap metal without a licence. They were issued with £300 fines.
One vehicle was seized because it was being driven without insurance.
Inspector Gail Lawrie, of Bradford South Police, said theft of lead from roofs of churches, schools and residential homes was a continuing problem in the area.
Roadside searches were carried out in Bowling Back Lane, while several scrap yards were serached.
Dave Small, a senior enforcement officer for Bradford Council, said: "What we deal with is the unlawful carrying of waste of people in their cars or vans, who need to be registered with the Environment Agency."
Four people were caught at one site with no licences, including two on foot carrying scrap metal in carrier bags.
Mr Small said people carrying metals were also required to keep transfer notes.
He said: "We do still get people who say they had no idea at all about these rules, but we have been doing stop searches with the police since April or May last year, so most of these people today, we will have stopped anyway.
"They should all really know the rules by now."
Mike Robotham, environmental crime officer for the Environment Agency, said: "All the sites we visited have got waste managing licences you need if you are keeping or handling waste.
"There is a paper trail that we try to get people to put into place, so that we are able to trace anything if it is fly-tipped."
After visiting sites where records were previously incomprehensible, Rob Langdale, environment officer for the Environment Agency, said their record-keeping methods had been improved.
He said: "If people do steal the lead, then they should know that scrap metal dealers will be keeping records of it.
"However, the metal dealers often want to take in the metal, no matter where it has come from, because of its inherent value.
"This is why we need to try to tighten the process up, so no illegal activity can take place easily."
Yesterday also saw British Transport Police join with police forces, Government agencies and industry representatives across the UK in a national day of action to target metal theft.
About 20 police forces across the country took part in the day of action, carrying out arrests, targeting hotspots and mounting overt and covert operations.
Your Say YourBradford Telegraph and Argus
Divers_uk, Gilstead says...
8:17am Tue 29 Jan 08
Part of the 57% then?
Divers_uk, Gilstead says...
8:17am Tue 29 Jan 08
Part of the 57% then?
Divers_uk, Gilstead says...
8:17am Tue 29 Jan 08
Part of the 57% then?
cs, says...
9:06am Tue 29 Jan 08
cs, says...
9:06am Tue 29 Jan 08
cs, says...
9:06am Tue 29 Jan 08
cs, says...
9:06am Tue 29 Jan 08
Darren, shipley says...
9:12am Tue 29 Jan 08
I hope they revisit these dealers in a couple of months to see if they have sorted it out. If not they should issue a £1000 pound fine.
Darren, shipley says...
9:12am Tue 29 Jan 08
I hope they revisit these dealers in a couple of months to see if they have sorted it out. If not they should issue a £1000 pound fine.
Darren, shipley says...
9:12am Tue 29 Jan 08
I hope they revisit these dealers in a couple of months to see if they have sorted it out. If not they should issue a £1000 pound fine.
Darren, shipley says...
9:12am Tue 29 Jan 08
I hope they revisit these dealers in a couple of months to see if they have sorted it out. If not they should issue a £1000 pound fine.
chris, BRADFORD says...
9:52am Tue 29 Jan 08
chris, BRADFORD says...
9:52am Tue 29 Jan 08
chris, BRADFORD says...
9:52am Tue 29 Jan 08
chris, BRADFORD says...
9:52am Tue 29 Jan 08
bingleyman, bingley says...
4:07pm Tue 29 Jan 08
bingleyman, bingley says...
4:07pm Tue 29 Jan 08
bingleyman, bingley says...
4:07pm Tue 29 Jan 08
bingleyman, bingley says...
4:07pm Tue 29 Jan 08
World Nation, Bradford says...
6:56pm Tue 29 Jan 08
bingleyman wrote:rubbish. these dealers arnt just happy to take stolen copper & other metal. they are also takin road signs, drain & man hole covers in the full knowledge that the stuff has been stolen. these thefts are from us all & on occasion cause death. scrap dealers ave always been bent, its time they got sent down for there criminality.
The metal recycling industry is very important to the uk economy without it who would recycle your old cookers and cars etc..Yes there is a rogue element as there is with Solicitors and accountants the police would be better confiscating the thousands of uninsured vehicles
World Nation, Bradford says...
6:56pm Tue 29 Jan 08
bingleyman wrote:rubbish. these dealers arnt just happy to take stolen copper & other metal. they are also takin road signs, drain & man hole covers in the full knowledge that the stuff has been stolen. these thefts are from us all & on occasion cause death. scrap dealers ave always been bent, its time they got sent down for there criminality.
The metal recycling industry is very important to the uk economy without it who would recycle your old cookers and cars etc..Yes there is a rogue element as there is with Solicitors and accountants the police would be better confiscating the thousands of uninsured vehicles
World Nation, Bradford says...
6:56pm Tue 29 Jan 08
bingleyman wrote:rubbish. these dealers arnt just happy to take stolen copper & other metal. they are also takin road signs, drain & man hole covers in the full knowledge that the stuff has been stolen. these thefts are from us all & on occasion cause death. scrap dealers ave always been bent, its time they got sent down for there criminality.
The metal recycling industry is very important to the uk economy without it who would recycle your old cookers and cars etc..Yes there is a rogue element as there is with Solicitors and accountants the police would be better confiscating the thousands of uninsured vehicles
World Nation, Bradford says...
6:56pm Tue 29 Jan 08
bingleyman wrote:rubbish. these dealers arnt just happy to take stolen copper & other metal. they are also takin road signs, drain & man hole covers in the full knowledge that the stuff has been stolen. these thefts are from us all & on occasion cause death. scrap dealers ave always been bent, its time they got sent down for there criminality.
The metal recycling industry is very important to the uk economy without it who would recycle your old cookers and cars etc..Yes there is a rogue element as there is with Solicitors and accountants the police would be better confiscating the thousands of uninsured vehicles
Pete, Bradford says...
7:46pm Tue 29 Jan 08
Does this mean that Mr Joe Public is not allowed to take scrap metal to the scrapyard - or anywhere else for that matter? If so what do we do with this valuable commodity? Presumably we are not allowed to take it anywhere unless we have a permit to move it. What does a permit cost?
Any answers?
What is this country comming to?
Pete, Bradford says...
7:46pm Tue 29 Jan 08
Does this mean that Mr Joe Public is not allowed to take scrap metal to the scrapyard - or anywhere else for that matter? If so what do we do with this valuable commodity? Presumably we are not allowed to take it anywhere unless we have a permit to move it. What does a permit cost?
Any answers?
What is this country comming to?
Pete, Bradford says...
7:46pm Tue 29 Jan 08
Does this mean that Mr Joe Public is not allowed to take scrap metal to the scrapyard - or anywhere else for that matter? If so what do we do with this valuable commodity? Presumably we are not allowed to take it anywhere unless we have a permit to move it. What does a permit cost?
Any answers?
What is this country comming to?
Pete, Bradford says...
7:46pm Tue 29 Jan 08
Does this mean that Mr Joe Public is not allowed to take scrap metal to the scrapyard - or anywhere else for that matter? If so what do we do with this valuable commodity? Presumably we are not allowed to take it anywhere unless we have a permit to move it. What does a permit cost?
Any answers?
What is this country comming to?
albion, west riding says...
9:34pm Tue 29 Jan 08
albion, west riding says...
9:34pm Tue 29 Jan 08
albion, west riding says...
9:34pm Tue 29 Jan 08
albion, west riding says...
9:34pm Tue 29 Jan 08
mcguinn1, bradford says...
9:58pm Tue 29 Jan 08
why should they suffer
mcguinn1, bradford says...
9:58pm Tue 29 Jan 08
why should they suffer
mcguinn1, bradford says...
9:58pm Tue 29 Jan 08
why should they suffer
mcguinn1, bradford says...
9:58pm Tue 29 Jan 08
why should they suffer
albion, west riding says...
10:06pm Tue 29 Jan 08
mcguinn1 wrote:If they have made a living honestly they will have a licence, so no problem.
what about the peaple who have made aliving of metals but honestly why should they suffer
albion, west riding says...
10:06pm Tue 29 Jan 08
mcguinn1 wrote:If they have made a living honestly they will have a licence, so no problem.
what about the peaple who have made aliving of metals but honestly why should they suffer
albion, west riding says...
10:06pm Tue 29 Jan 08
mcguinn1 wrote:If they have made a living honestly they will have a licence, so no problem.
what about the peaple who have made aliving of metals but honestly why should they suffer
albion, west riding says...
10:06pm Tue 29 Jan 08
mcguinn1 wrote:If they have made a living honestly they will have a licence, so no problem.
what about the peaple who have made aliving of metals but honestly why should they suffer
mrs walker, round here says...
11:06pm Tue 29 Jan 08
mrs walker, round here says...
11:06pm Tue 29 Jan 08
mrs walker, round here says...
11:06pm Tue 29 Jan 08
mrs walker, round here says...
11:06pm Tue 29 Jan 08
World Nation, Bradford says...
9:56am Wed 30 Jan 08
mrs walker wrote:agree. masons used to leave there mark on stone. why cant it still be marked to ID it? then when it stolen police just need to email/text/ring/visi
Can they raid the stone merchants offering cash for Yorkshire stone next? There's hardly any original pavement left outside my house anymore...
t stone merchant and tell em that if stone with a certain mark turn up they should seize, detain the peeple who bring it it and dial 999 to police strait away.
World Nation, Bradford says...
9:56am Wed 30 Jan 08
mrs walker wrote:agree. masons used to leave there mark on stone. why cant it still be marked to ID it? then when it stolen police just need to email/text/ring/visi
Can they raid the stone merchants offering cash for Yorkshire stone next? There's hardly any original pavement left outside my house anymore...
t stone merchant and tell em that if stone with a certain mark turn up they should seize, detain the peeple who bring it it and dial 999 to police strait away.
World Nation, Bradford says...
9:56am Wed 30 Jan 08
mrs walker wrote:agree. masons used to leave there mark on stone. why cant it still be marked to ID it? then when it stolen police just need to email/text/ring/visi
Can they raid the stone merchants offering cash for Yorkshire stone next? There's hardly any original pavement left outside my house anymore...
t stone merchant and tell em that if stone with a certain mark turn up they should seize, detain the peeple who bring it it and dial 999 to police strait away.
World Nation, Bradford says...
9:56am Wed 30 Jan 08
mrs walker wrote:agree. masons used to leave there mark on stone. why cant it still be marked to ID it? then when it stolen police just need to email/text/ring/visi
Can they raid the stone merchants offering cash for Yorkshire stone next? There's hardly any original pavement left outside my house anymore...
t stone merchant and tell em that if stone with a certain mark turn up they should seize, detain the peeple who bring it it and dial 999 to police strait away.
maxa, bradford says...
1:37pm Wed 30 Jan 08
maxa, bradford says...
1:37pm Wed 30 Jan 08
maxa, bradford says...
1:37pm Wed 30 Jan 08
maxa, bradford says...
1:37pm Wed 30 Jan 08
mrs walker, round here says...
12:30am Thu 31 Jan 08
World Nation wrote:I think it would be more effective if I tottered round the stoneyards and checked the wares, and then you whacked all the people selling dodgy stolen slabs ;-)
mrs walker wrote:agree. masons used to leave there mark on stone. why cant it still be marked to ID it? then when it stolen police just need to email/text/ring/visi
Can they raid the stone merchants offering cash for Yorkshire stone next? There's hardly any original pavement left outside my house anymore...
t stone merchant and tell em that if stone with a certain mark turn up they should seize, detain the peeple who bring it it and dial 999 to police strait away.
Not that I approve of violence, you understand...
mrs walker, round here says...
12:30am Thu 31 Jan 08
World Nation wrote:I think it would be more effective if I tottered round the stoneyards and checked the wares, and then you whacked all the people selling dodgy stolen slabs ;-)
mrs walker wrote:agree. masons used to leave there mark on stone. why cant it still be marked to ID it? then when it stolen police just need to email/text/ring/visi
Can they raid the stone merchants offering cash for Yorkshire stone next? There's hardly any original pavement left outside my house anymore...
t stone merchant and tell em that if stone with a certain mark turn up they should seize, detain the peeple who bring it it and dial 999 to police strait away.
Not that I approve of violence, you understand...
mrs walker, round here says...
12:30am Thu 31 Jan 08
World Nation wrote:I think it would be more effective if I tottered round the stoneyards and checked the wares, and then you whacked all the people selling dodgy stolen slabs ;-)
mrs walker wrote:agree. masons used to leave there mark on stone. why cant it still be marked to ID it? then when it stolen police just need to email/text/ring/visi
Can they raid the stone merchants offering cash for Yorkshire stone next? There's hardly any original pavement left outside my house anymore...
t stone merchant and tell em that if stone with a certain mark turn up they should seize, detain the peeple who bring it it and dial 999 to police strait away.
Not that I approve of violence, you understand...
mrs walker, round here says...
12:30am Thu 31 Jan 08
World Nation wrote:I think it would be more effective if I tottered round the stoneyards and checked the wares, and then you whacked all the people selling dodgy stolen slabs ;-)
mrs walker wrote:agree. masons used to leave there mark on stone. why cant it still be marked to ID it? then when it stolen police just need to email/text/ring/visi
Can they raid the stone merchants offering cash for Yorkshire stone next? There's hardly any original pavement left outside my house anymore...
t stone merchant and tell em that if stone with a certain mark turn up they should seize, detain the peeple who bring it it and dial 999 to police strait away.
Not that I approve of violence, you understand...
Scrap values have soared
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Divers_uk, Gilstead says...
8:17am Tue 29 Jan 08
Part of the 57% then?