Crackdown on illegal scrap metal traders in Risca

Friday May 21st, 2010

Illegal and unregistered scrap metal traders have been the subject of a crackdown by authorities.

Gwent Police’s Risca Neighbourhood Policing Team, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, the Environment Agency and Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team carried out checks on vehicles outside local scrap metal dealers during the recent one-day operation.

Details of the vehicles and drivers were recorded and verified to ensure that the vehicles were roadworthy, and breaches of trader licensing regulations were identified and any criminal activity detected.
During the day:

Trading Standards spoke to 23 people, with 17 of those coming from within the Caerphilly County Borough Council area. These people were issued with relevant license application documents.

VOSA issued nine prohibition notices. Of these, six drivers had to immediately fix defects on their vehicles before they could be moved, while another three drivers were given notices to repair defects.

Three people were reported for not having insurance.

One vehicle was seized under Section 165 for not having insurance.

The Environment Agency issued 13 tickets to people without waste carrier licences. They have ten days to adhere and register as a waste carrier or they will be taken to court.

PC Franca Sidoli, from the Risca Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We stopped a large number of vehicles during the day to run checks and ensure that those carrying scrap metal were licensed to do so.

“A number of vehicle crime offences were also dealt with. We will continue to work with our partners including the Environment Agency, VOSA and the local council to clamp down on illegal or unregistered scrap metal dealers.”

Susana Fernandez, Enforcement Officer for the Environment Agency, said: “This was a very busy day, and deemed a great success from our
perspective.

“A total of 20 vehicles were stopped, all carrying mixed waste scrap metal. Thirteen of these did not have a waste carriers licence.

“This day sends a clear message out that those who transport waste illegally will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with appropriately. We will continue to work with our partners in targeting this activity on similar action days.”

Cllr Lyn Ackerman, Caerphily County Borough Council’s cabinet member for the environment said: “Operations such as this illustrate partnership working at its best. Together with our partners at various agencies we were able to pool our resources and ensure that those carrying scrap metal are fully licensed to do so and are operating fully within the law.”

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