The Operation Tornado scheme to combat metal theft is to be introduced into the East Midlands.
Nottinghamshire Police will co-ordinate the scheme that will also involve police forces in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire.
The Operation Tornado scheme was previously trialled in Durham, Northumberland and Cleveland.
Nottinghamshire Police assistant chief constable Paul Broadbent said that his police force has set aside the top floor of Newark Police Station and fitted it with the latest technology to deal with metal theft. He added: “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.
“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.
“We will be executing a range of preventative, disruptive and apprehension tactics in the fight against metal theft.”
As part of Operation Tornado in the East Midlands region, all scrap dealers will be expected to comply with the initiative before its regional launch in April. This will mean scrap dealers will need photo ID, copying facilities and CCTV on their premises.
