Police swoop in scrap-yard raids

POLICE raided an Oldham scrap-metal dealer this morning as part of a hard-hitting day of action which saw officers across the North-West join forces with British Transport Police to combat metal theft.

The latest swoop — at Monarch Metals in Arkwright Street — saw four officers search the firm’s yard at 8.30am.

Representatives from BT, Virgin Media, Smartwater and Electricity North-West were present as they also went through the company’s books.

The latest crackdown comes amid new figures which suggest police have cut metal theft across the North-West by as much as 48 per cent since last year.

Superintendent Craig Thompson, from Greater Manchester Police’s Specialist Operations Branch, said: “We have worked hard to make the region a hostile environment for metal thieves.”

Global increases in commodity prices for scrap metals, especially copper and lead, in the last couple of years saw thieves targeting homes and community buildings. Telecoms, electricity, water and rail and tram networks were also targeted causing widespread disruption.

The crackdown has helped bring the problem under control but officers and utility and transport providers are keen to reduce the thefts even further.

Almost 85 per cent of the 232 scrap-metal dealers in the North-West have signed up to a scheme which requires anyone selling scrap metal to yards to provide photo ID and proof of address making it harder for rogue dealers to operate.


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