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The Council has launched a joint operation with the police to crackdown on thefts of valuable metals from businesses and public buildings in the borough.
Following a recent spate of metal thefts from schools, churches, council buildings and local businesses, we have teamed up with Greenwich police to become one of the first London boroughs to take a tough stance on metal thefts. We will be targeting thieves and companies who profit from stolen materials and stolen vehicles.
Crime prevention measures
Stolen materials - such as copper phone cables, iron manhole and gully covers, road signs and metal from catalytic converters from cars - are being better protected by a number of new measures. These include:
- a registration scheme for scrap metal dealers and motor salvage yards.
This will mean companies will not be able to operate unless they are registered with the Council. They will have to keep detailed logs of all buyers and sellers, along with records of all their materials.
- Inspections
Police and Council licensing inspectors can visit salvage and scrap yards 24-hours a day to inspect any premises, its records, and any goods or materials.
Licensing officers will be calling in at firms believed to be handling metals.
- Registration scheme
The Council is also organising registration packs that will be presented to around 30 known scrap dealers across the borough during site visits over the summer months.
Chemical marking
In addition, targeted and vulnerable metals will be treated with a forensic grease that carries a DNA code. This can be traced on stolen metals, as well as clothing and hands of anyone who comes into contact with it.
The Council will be using this on buildings across the borough over the next few months, along with warning signs about the chemical property-marking.
Keeping track
Councillor Maureen O’Mara, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said:
"We have launched this operation to ensure that scrap metal dealers are playing by the rules and any business found operating without having registered will be liable for a fine. These stolen metals are going somewhere and there are only so many places that are willing to buy, melt and sell them on.
"We hope the registration scheme and the chemical marking will help us keep a closer track of materials and the dealers that handle them."
Report suspected metal-theft crime
If you see any suspicious activities you can report them by calling 999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
16 April 2008