Metal theft team set up for East Midlands

A regional police team to tackle metal theft in the East Midlands is being launched in Nottinghamshire.

Based at Newark police station, the team will have officers from five forces as well as staff from government agencies and utility companies.

The team begins shortly before the regional launch of Operation Tornado which will tighten the regulation surrounding scrap metal dealers.

The team will be posting updates on social media for the next week.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Broadbent said: "It really is a one-stop shop in the swift and comprehensive identification of stolen metal and those involved in the movement of it."

Operation Tornado, which has been trialled in the North East but will be launched in the East Midlands in April, will require metal dealers to obtain photo identification from their clients and to have CCTV.