THE FIGHT against metal theft continues, and Dyfed-Powys Police in conjunction with our partner agencies, such as the local authorities, Natural Resources Wales and neighbouring police forces, are continuously taking action following information received in relation to this type of crime.

In December 2013 the Scrap Metal Dealers Act came into force, which states that all mobile scrap metal dealers have to register with the local authority in which they intend to collect. They require a licence for each individual local authority area.

Recent operations conducted consist of a cross border visit to a scrap yard in South Wales Police area, and an operation at Fishguard and Pembroke Dock Ports.

DC Jo Grey, from the Environmental Crime Team said: “The cross border visit to a yard in South Wales revealed 27 Dyfed Powys residents, who were not registered mobile collectors with Carmarthenshire, were taking metal regularly into the South Wales area yard. The metal consisted of cable, copper piping, lead and mixed metals. The information was passed onto the local neighbourhood policing teams and home visits were conducted to establish if they were registered collectors elsewhere, any environmental protection act offences, and if scrap metal dealers books/transfer notes were being kept correctly.

“All 27 addresses were visited and advice given to several collectors in terms of registering with the local authority, waste transfer notes and keeping accurate records. It has become evident in subsequent visits at registered collectors that this operation has had an impact within the scrap metal mobile collectors industry, as many of them were surprised that cross border information was acted on, and police were actually visiting home addresses. It has highlighted the fact that they must be registered with the local authority and that police are acting on any information regarding the movement of metal by unregistered collectors.

“The aim of the multi-agency operation at Fishguard and Pembroke Dock ports was to inspect all outgoing and incoming freight to establish the import and export of stolen metal or scrapped metal. Over 100 containers were inspected. Scrapped batteries were found within some, which did not have the necessary relevant paperwork. This was an excellent proactive operation which gave Dyfed –Powys officers, and those of partner agencies, the opportunity to increase their knowledge and understanding of metal theft and transfer of waste offences, whilst also sending a clear message to freight carriers that these matters are being pro-actively targeted.”