Multi-agency Operation Beagle targets scrap metal trade.

Roads policing officers in Carmarthenshire teamed up with the local council’s environmentalenforcement officers recently to target unlicensed scrap metal collectors and crack down on the theft of scrap metal across the county.

Operation Beagle was carried out across the whole county on Wednesday 2nd February 2011, and resulted in a total of 12 vehicles being stop checked.

“This was a multi-agency operation aimed at proactively targeting and searching for unlicensed scrap metal collectors and potential scrap metal thieves,” said Roads Policing Sergeant Lee Williams. “Together with colleagues from the council we stop checked 12 vehicles. Eight of the vehicle drivers were reported for not having a waste carriers licence or no waste transfer notices.

“Two referrals have been made for offences under the Pollution Act, four fixed penalty notices were issued for motoring offences and one report for a driving offence,

“We also seized one vehicle because the driver did not have the appropriate insurance in place for its use.”

With the price of metal currently fetching record prices, scrap metal theft has been on the rise across the county, with copper and lead being among the most targeted metals.

“We are working with our partners to try and address this issue, including the Community Safety Partnership, trading standards, fire brigade, the Environment Agency, environmental enforcement and licensing.,” said Community Safety Inspector Tony Ward. “We’re asking the public to help us by reporting any information which might be of use. This would include any unusual vehicles seen in an area, their make, colour and registration if possible.

“It’s not just businesses which are affected by these thefts. Thieves are taking items such metal gates, railings copper pipes and so on which means ordinary householders are just as likely to be targeted, and therefore need to be just as vigilant.”

Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member for the environment Councillor Philip Hughes said: “This is an excellent example of partnership working and is very much in line with the council’s policy of working for a clean, green and safe environment.

“All businesses that carry waste, including scrap merchants, skip companies, builders and gardeners, must have a waste carriers licence. They must also make sure they have the correct paperwork, known as waste transfer notes, for all the waste they carry and only use licensed waste sites to dispose of their rubbish.

“The illegal transport of waste can often result in fly-tipping and anyone caught will be prosecuted through the courts – where the maximum penalty is £5,000.

“By working together, we can help to drive the professional fly-tippers out of business, which, in the long run, saves council taxpayers thousands of pounds.”