ONE vehicle was seized and one person arrested in Leominster during a multi-agency operation to tackle metal thefts yesterday.

Operation Tornado, which took place near Leominster Police Station in Enterprise Way, was part of a national operation.

Police vehicle examiners, representatives from VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency), HMRC (Revenue and Customs), and DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) were involved.

Sergeant Colin Smith, who organised the operation, said: “The aim of the checks was to intercept unregistered metal carriers and those using the road network to commit crime - principally rural metal theft.

“We also looked whether the vehicles were suitable for the purposes for which they were being used, and whether any motoring offences including drink driving were being committed.

“While ten breath tests were carried out, it is very pleasing that all of the results were negative.”

One vehicle was seized for no insurance, and four people were dealt with for having no insurance.

A man was arrested on behalf of Essex Police who wanted him for questioning about making off without payment.

As well as scrap metal collectors, other vehicles were stopped if they were identified through ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) as being of interest to the police, for example those which were shown as having no insurance or MOT, or were known to be used by criminals.

The new Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, implemented on October 1, is now being enforced.

It introduced a more rigorous licensing regime for scrap metal collectors, scrap metal sites and motor salvage operators, requiring them to apply for criminal records checks, and for a site or collectors licence.