|
METAL THEFT -
DAY OF ACTION
MERSEYSIDE Police on
Friday, 16 December 2011 teamed up with other forces and partners to
combat metal theft. The operation was set up in response to concerns
raised about the increasing value of scrap metal and the potential
for criminals to steal it.
Merseyside Police teamed up with officers from Greater Manchester
Police, British Transport Police, Port of Liverpool Police and key
partners during the day of action.
The operation concentrated on the key routes into Merseyside leading
to Liverpool Ports. Previous operations have concentrated on
addressing issues within scrap yards and ensuring operatives are
complying with legislation; the purpose of this operation is to
intercept vehicles heading to scrap yards and the ports of Liverpool
and ensure that legislation is being complied with and that
operatives are working within the guidelines.
The operation involved activity around the 3 key scrap metal dealers
located near to the port.
Metal theft offences are on the increase not only in region; but
nationally. High demands for metals from developing countries have
seen the value of scrap metal increasing.
Almost 6 crimes per day (5.8) are theft of metal related. This
equates to 2.1% of all recorded crime.
Results include:-
► 12 tonnes of BT copper cabling has
been recovered
► 52 vehicles were stop checked
► 7 Fixed Penalty Notices issued /
24 Prohibition notices / 5 Defect notices - taxi licensing
► 4 arrests
Chief Inspector Zoe Thornton, said:- "While some criminals may
see metal theft as a profitable business we are determined to show
that if people are involved in this type of crime we will take
action and they will be caught. Due to the escalating value of
metals such as lead and copper, they have become attractive to
thieves who are then exchanging them for cash. Metal theft is not a
victimless crime and has a negative impact upon the communities in
which we live. The spotlight was on the local transport network near
to the port today and officers have completed a number of roadside
checks at a number of sites and visited a number of scrap yards. The
operation concentrated on key routes into Liverpool near to the dock
area. Metal theft causes service interruption for the provision of
utilities and services such as electricity, water, gas,
telecommunications and rail transport. This type of crime is
something that has caused misery to many and we’re determined to
work with our partner agencies to clamp down on it. Those who steal
cable from the railways and other areas are putting themselves in
real danger. Railway lines are operational 24 hours a day and
trespassing can prove fatal. Strong currents also pass through many
cables and can seriously injure anyone who touches them. Those who
steal cable are not only risking a prison sentence, they are risking
their lives. Residents, businesses and criminals should be aware
that this is another example of our focus on this type of crime and
we will be carrying out further work around the area. The community
are our eyes and ears and by sharing information and intelligence we
can target those involved in this crime and bring them to justice."
Andrew Lloyd, ScottishPower Energy Networks Regional Operations
Manager, said:- "A co-ordinated approach is vital to tackle
the issues associated with metal theft. We work very closely with
Merseyside Police and with companies from other industries such as
telecoms and transport. Those involved with metal theft cause a huge
amount of inconvenience, but also often threaten the safety of the
wider public and staff who deal with such events. Working together
with others we want to target those involved in stealing metal, and
also those involved with buying and selling stolen metal."
If you have any information about the theft of metal contact Police
on 101or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800 555
111. 3
arrested in North West’s largest cigarettes seizure
OVER 16.5 million illegal
cigarettes, the largest single detection in the North West region
this year, were seized by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officers in
the Rochdale area on Monday, 19 December 2011. The cigarettes,
worth an estimated £3.8 million in evaded duty and VAT, were
uncovered at an industrial unit in the Castleton area. The
cigarettes were imported as ‘fruit’ with a large quantity of oranges
and kiwifruits used as a ‘cover load’ in an attempt to conceal the
smuggled tobacco. 2 men (aged 49 and 35) from Greater Manchester and
one man (43) from South Wales were arrested on suspicion of excise
fraud and bailed until March 2012. Three vehicles were also seized
plus cash estimated to be £75,000. HMRC Assistant Director,
Criminal Investigations, Mike O’Grady said:- "Tobacco
smuggling on this scale isn’t about cheap cigarettes; it is
organised fraud on a global scale, encouraging and supporting
criminality within our communities, and robbing taxpayers of
millions each year in unpaid duty and VAT. HMRC teams operate across
the North West to disrupt this illicit trade, which has a
devastating impact on legitimate retailers having to compete against
crime on this scale, particularly at Christmas, one of the busiest
times of year. Anyone with information about the storage or sale of
illegal tobacco in their area should contact the Customs’ hotline
on:- 0800 59 5000." Enquiries into this huge cigarette
seizure and the criminals involved continue. The seized cigarettes
will be recycled as fuel pellets and used to fuel the national
electricity grid.
|
|
Busy fortnight
ahead as Christmas getaway begins at JLA
LIVERPOOL John Lennon
Airport (JLA) is once again gearing up for the great Christmas and
New Year ‘Getaway’ with around 190,000 passengers expected to pass
through the Airport over the holiday period.
The end of school term on Friday triggered the first increase in
passengers through the Airport as families across the region headed
off on flights from Liverpool to seek some much needed Winter sun,
to go skiing, visit relatives, or looking for Christmas and New Year
festivities across Europe.
As usual, popular flights for passengers over the coming days are
expected to be winter ski destinations such as Salzburg, Innsbruck,
Lyon and Grenoble, The Canary Islands and southern Spain for some
warmer winter weather and Christmas city break destinations.
Christmas is also a time to meet up with family and friends with
many passengers taking advantage of flights to Northern Ireland and
The Republic of Ireland. Visitor numbers arriving to the region via
the Airport are also expected to continue to grow over the festive
period too.
Helping to put passengers in the holiday mood, World Duty Free have
the Liverpool Town Crier in their store in the departure lounge
today and on Friday 23rd December. They also have a gift wrapping
service available at certain times too, for any passengers wanting
to purchase last minute presents, ready to give to friends and
family.
JLA Management are once again keen to remind all passengers to allow
plenty of time to pass through the Airport during this busy period
and that stringent security restrictions still apply, with
passengers being urged to arrive at the Airport at least 2 hours
ahead of their departure times as usual.
Restrictions on liquids carried in hand luggage are still in place
and can cause disruption for passengers, who are asked to think
carefully about what items they are intending to pack in hand
luggage, before they set off for the Airport - especially those who
are travelling with presents for friends and relatives.
With many airlines encouraging on-line check-in and hand luggage
only, passengers are reminded that all items in hand luggage
including wrapped Christmas presents are subject to search as part
of the current aviation security measures that are in place at all
UK Airports. To avoid disappointment at the security search point
and to help keep security queues to a minimum, passengers are being
asked to travel with their presents unwrapped if they are to be
carried in hand luggage. Airlines operating from Liverpool do not
permit Christmas crackers in hand luggage either.
Paul Staples, Airport Director commented:- "We expect another
busy Christmas and New Year period here at JLA with passengers
taking advantage of the wide choice of destinations available.
Whilst many of our staff will be working over the festive period we
always look forward to helping get the Christmas and New Year
holidays off to a great start for everyone. Once again we’d like to
remind all passengers to help us to help them and avoid some of the
disappointment we have seen in previous years by allowing extra
time, coming prepared and thinking about what they are carrying in
their hand luggage."
Eat, Drink and be Merry this
Christmas; but Remember to Recycle!
AS Christmas is
traditionally the season for giving, Sefton’s residents are being
urged to give a little back to the planet by remembering to recycle
throughout the festive season. The food waste collection service
using the kitchen food waste caddy and the kerbside food waste bin,
can be used to dispose of leftovers from the Christmas dinner, such
as sprouts and turkey bones. Food waste collected in Sefton is
transported to a special processing plant in West Yorkshire that
composts the food waste for use in horticulture. The green box can
be used to recycle empty mince meat and pickled onion jars, beer and
wine bottles and the foil cases from shop-bought mince pies. Glass
bottles and jars are recycled into new glass products, whilst
aluminium and steel cans are recycled into new metal products. The
blue bag can be used to recycle Christmas Gift catalogues, TV guides
and other paper-based items. Paper waste collected in Sefton is
recycled into new paper. The weekly textiles recycling collection
service, using a pink bag, can be used for clothing, paired shoes,
accessories, household linen and curtains.
Cllr. Simon Shaw, Cabinet Member Environmental, Sefton Council,
said:- "Having a weekly kerbside recycling service provided by
Palm Recycling gives Sefton’s residents a convenient way to recycle
and helps save the planet."
Ruairi Holyoake, Scheme Supervisor for Palm Recycling, added:-
"The weekly kerbside recycling service will continue throughout
the festive season. Using this service makes it easy to recycle more
things, more often."
Cllr. Simon Shaw continued:- "Real Christmas trees can be
recycled after the holidays too."
After Christmas, Sefton Council’s Direct Services will collect real
Christmas trees for composting. This service is available on
request, for a limited period, for residents in the borough. To
arrange a collection, please call:- 0845 140 0845. The service is
strictly limited and will be operated on a first come, first served
basis. From January 3, 2012, residents can also
take their trees to Lifeboat Road Car Park, Formby where the
Christmas trees are used to trap sand and slow down the rate of
erosion on the coastline. Residents are reminded to
remove all decorations and any metal base brackets before recycling
their real Christmas tree. Residents who are not currently
opted into the food waste collection scheme can request a food waste
bin for outside, an internal kitchen food waste caddy and an
information pack, free of charge, by contacting Sefton Council on:-
0845 140 0845. Free extra or replacement blue bags for paper
recycling, pink bags for textiles and green boxes for glass bottles
& jars and tins/cans and aerosol cans may also be requested by
calling this number. |
