A NATIONAL crackdown on metal thieves will be launched in the North East next week.
The pilot scheme is to be trialled in the region from Tuesday under which people selling scrap metals to dealers will have to provide proof of identity supported by a utility bill.
It is hoped an estimated 240 scrap metal dealers in the Northumbria, Durham and Cleveland police areas will sign up to the six-month trial being coordinated by British Transport Police.
Crooks have caused widespread damage across the North East in more than 4,000 reported incidents this year alone.
On the Tyne and Wear Metro, cable thefts have become a growing problem and Nexus, which owns and manages the system, has spent £300,000 carrying out repairs.
Nexus director-general Bernard Garner said: “Nexus welcomes the wide range of initiatives being developed. Cable thefts are a major issue here in the North East and we will be doing everything to ensure this pilot project is a success.”
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) estimates that metal thefts cost the UK economy £1 billion a year.
Det Chief Inspector John Lingwood from Northumbria Police also welcomed the initiative, saying : “Anything that can be done to help regulate the scrap metal industry, especially around buying, selling and identification of metal, can only be of help in tacking metal theft.”
