Scrapyard searched in clampdown

4:19pm Friday 29th February 2008

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A SCRAPYARD was searched by poice as part of a clampdown to prevent the illegal sale of stolen cars and parts.

And officers have warned that more spot checks will be carried out as part of Operation Partridge, which will also look at businesses which sell on cars which have been written off.

Officers from the road policing and serious and organised crime units were joined by council licensing officers, the Environment Agency and Trading Standards Alf Kyme's Van Breakers in Stacksteads.

They said they were "satisfied" with records kept at the company and bosses at the Rakehead Lane yard later said they were "surprised" by the visit.

Sergeant Simon Ingham, from Lancashire Constabulary's stolen vehicle squad, said: "We are pleased to say that it has been a satisfactory inspection. We have had the powers to search premises like this for some years but now we're stepping up our inspections.

"The purpose of this operation is to make sure they're complying with the regulations.

"It is also about working with our partners to reduce crime, in particular auto crime where stolen vehicles and stolen parts are being sold and handled through these types of premises.

"Scrap metal is at a premium and it's a way to dispose of stolen vehicles and make money. We will be making regular visits and turning up at premises without prior warning."

All motor salvage operators should register with the local authority and keep records.

A motor salvage operator is any business involved in the recovery and sale of working parts or a firm which buys written-off vehicles for repair and then sells them on.

As part of the Motor Salvage Act businesses have to be registered, keep records of all goods, and allow police to enter premises without a warrant.

Anyone breaking the law can face fines of up to £5,000.

Alf Kyme's director David Kyme said: "The visit came as a surprise because we are fully licensed.

"We also use Lancashire Police's tracking system which reports when a vehicle comes in, books it in by getting the name and address of the person and IDs them before the vehicle is taken. We keep records of every transaction so we had nothing to worry about."