Metal is seized in operation (From This Is Wiltshire)

Police clamped down on metal thefts during surprise visits to scrapyards.

Wiltshire Police officers joined British Transport Police, the Environment Agency, HMRC and other agencies in Operation Tornado.

At Porter, in Christian Mal-ford, officers seized several large sheets of aluminium, some still covered in plastic, worth an estimated £4,000. The metal is being linked to a theft at a landscaping company and records from the firm are being used to ascertain its origin. Another visit took place at EMR scrap metal in Gipsy Lane, Swindon, but no seizures were made. A further inspection was made at Melksham Metals. Licensing checks also took place at the sites and dealers were encouraged to adopt a new identification scheme. Operation Tornado was taking place in the South after being trialled successfully in the North East. Metal theft is estimated to cost the UK around £1bn a year.