Police catch illegal scrap metal dealers in chase

Two men were spotted by Cherwell District Council's community safety team collecting scrap metal on Saturday, April 10 in Drayton, near Banbury.

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Following initial work with the police it was suspected that they were operating without the correct licences and without insurance for their large white transit van.

Acting on information that the men would be in Bicester the next day, the community safety team searched Bicester estates and saw the driver and passenger from the previous day, plus a third man.

They were loading scrap metal into the same van, which by now had different number plates.

The vehicle was stopped and seized by the police on Leach Road, but the suspects fled on foot.

The driver, a 32-year-old from the West Midlands, was arrested following a short chase for: driving whilst disqualified, driving under the influence, and driving without insurance.

Police chased the two other men for about half an hour until they were detained and their identification verified at Bicester North Train Station.

The council will investigate all three men under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 with a view to prosecuting them.

Richard Webb, assistant director for regulatory services and community safety, said: “These suspects may have thought they could pull the wool over our eyes by changing their registration plates, but they underestimated our persistence and our desire to keep our area safe and free from crime.”

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If convicted in a magistrates' court they could face a fine of up to £50,000, or 12 months’ imprisonment. Illegal waste disposal in a public place can attract an unlimited fine and up to five years’ imprisonment for those convicted in a crown court.

Mr Webb added: “Partnership work is key to effective enforcement in our area. I am delighted that through their close work with the police, our officers were able to provide intelligence which ultimately took three alleged criminals off the streets.

“The residents who left their scrap out for these men may well have done so in good faith. But the law says that anyone who entrusts their waste to someone who goes on to fly-tip it can be fined up to £1,000.

“We have reason to believe that these suspects were advertising their illegal service on Facebook. Choosing to do business with someone you have met in the comments section of a social media post can be very risky.

"All residents should use the Environment Agency website to check if the people they want to remove their waste are legitimate.”

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If approached in person by a scrap dealer, or anyone else offering cash to remove waste, residents should request proof of their license before allowing them to take the unwanted items away.

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