West Midlands scrap yards agree to ask for proof of ID
Scrap metal dealers in the West Midlands will no longer buy from people without photographic ID and proof of their address, police have said.
West Midlands Police said it has linked up with Staffordshire Police, West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police for Operation Tornado.
It said that "a vast majority" of local scrap yards have all signed a voluntary agreement to ask for proof of identity.
Police will visit businesses to ensure they are abiding by the agreement.
Metal dealer crackdown
Operation Tornado was introduced across the country to cut thefts of metal after a successful pilot in the north-east of England earlier this year.
Det Insp Gordon Roberts leads the new team, which sits within West Midlands Force CID.
He said: "In the past we have seen criminals travelling hundreds of miles, across several police boundaries, to sell on what they have stolen because they know that some forces have been tough on cracking down on scrap metal dealers.
"Operation Tornado will get rid of that trend, as the whole country will be coming on board to make sure traders up and down the UK are all following the same rules and regulations when it comes to ID."