Operation Calanthia has been set up to tackle the growing problem of theft of metal such as copper, lead, iron and steel.
The operation includes enforcement action against those involved in the crime as well as raising awareness with local businesses and groups about the issue.
As part of this, officers are identifying potentially vulnerable premises across the county, such as churches, schools and building sites, and offering them appropriate crime prevention advice and property marking. You can also find useful information for protecting your home and business in our Protecting Yourself From Metal Theft| section.
Officers are also paying regular visits to scrap metal merchants to remind them of the legislation around the receiving and recording of metal and encouraging them to contact the police around suspicious people.
In March, a collaborative regional campaign has been launched to highlight the good work being done across the East Midlands to clamp down on this crime.
Operation Tornado
Police forces across the East Midlands are taking part in Operation Tornado, an initiative aimed at better regulating the scrap metal industry and restricting the movement of stolen metal.
From April 2 2012, anyone wishing to sell scrap metal to participating dealers must provide proof of their identity by producing some form of photographic identification, such as a driving licence, and proof of address, like a recent utility bill.
Operation Tornado is being implemented by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Home Office, the British Transport Police (BTP) and the five police forces of the East Midlands (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire), in collaboration with their regional partners in government and industry.
Officers have visited scrap dealers across the region, asking them to sign up to the scheme and display posters which ask customers for identification.
Can you help?
If you want to report any suspicious activity relating to metal theft, call our non-emergency number on 0345 123 33 33 or report it anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Operation Calanthia newsAtom Feed
- Description
- Police have charged a man in connection with the theft of metal from a house in Derby.
- Date:
- 08/03/2012
- Description
- Two men have been arrested on suspicion of taking metal from a business in Hadfield.
- Date:
- 07/03/2012
- Description
- Officers investigating the theft of lead from a church have charged two men.
- Date:
- 06/03/2012
- Description
- Metal thefts fell across Derbyshire during a three-month operation and more than 60 people were arrested.
- Date:
- 24/01/2012
- Description
- Police are warning would-be thieves of the dangers of metal theft after a teenager who attempted to steal copper cable attached to a pylon was electrocuted.
- Date:
- 08/11/2011
Operation Calanthia Strike Week gallery