Nottinghamshire Metal Theft Crackdown

Newark Police Station has been kitted out with the latest technology to enable a more holistic approach to crime fighting.

Over the next week the hub will house police officers from the East Midlands' five Forces, including Nottinghamshire's Metal Theft Reduction Team, officers from partner organisations such as the Department for Work and Pensions and the Environment Agency, and industry representatives from the likes of Anglican Water, Severn Trent Water, Western Power, BT and SmartWater.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Broadbent said: "The Government has allocated £80,000 in funding to bolster regional work on reducing metal theft, and we absolutely intend to make every penny count.

"Nottinghamshire Police is the regional lead on metal theft. In collaboration with our neighbouring forces, partners and industry, this resource will enable officers from across the region to dial in and have access to information from a range of systems and databases.

"It really is a one-stop shop in the swift and comprehensive identification of stolen metal and those involved in the movement of it."

Operation Tornado is a British Transport Police-led initiative from the Association of Chief Police Officers. All scrap metal dealers in the East Midlands will be expected to comply with the initiative before its regional launch in April. The requirements include having copying facilities and CCTV on scrap metal premises.

ACC Broadbent said: "The launch of the control room will support an intense period of regional action against metal theft in the lead up to the launch of Operation Tornado, in which all scrap metal dealers will be required to obtain photo identification from their clients.