£715 fine for scrap metal dealer who had no papers
AN UNLICENSED scrap metal dealer has been fined £715 after the first prosecution of its kind in Stoke-on-Trent.
Jamie Leigh was taken to court by Stoke-on-Trent City Council after being caught transporting a "large amount" of lead and other metal without the proper documentation.
Leigh refused to pay an initial penalty notice of £300 issued by enforcement officers, following a joint operation with Staffordshire Police in May 2011.
But at Fenton Magistrates' Court he admitted he was not able to produce a valid waste carrier's licence to show he was allowed to carry controlled waste.
The 28-year-old, of Rydal Way, Clayton, who is currently serving a prison sentence for an unrelated offence, was handed a £500 fine, with £200 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Councillor Janine Bridges, cabinet member for city services, said: "This is a great result for the city council and shows that we take these cases seriously.
"It's not just a case of fining people for the sake of it.
"We need people who deal with controlled waste products to do it properly. I would encourage people to make sure they have the correct documentation before transporting controlled waste."
Waste carriers' licenses are required for anyone who transports controlled waste in the course of a business or otherwise with a view to profit. The licences cost up to £154 for three years.
Andrew Burkinshaw, director at Hartshill-based scrap metal firm Moores Metals, welcomed the prosecution.
He said: "With the high price of scrap metal a lot of people are chancing their arm, thinking they can go into the business without having the proper documentation.
"We are 100 per cent behind any efforts to make the industry cleaner, and we applaud the council for taking this action."
Scrap metal thieves struck 530 times in North Staffordshire between April and September 2011.
Staffordshire Police launched Operation Amalgam to tackle the problem in April 2008. Officers now hold monthly meetings with scrap metal businesses in an effort to clean up the industry.
A police spokesman said: "We will continue to work closely with our partners, including Stoke-on-Trent City Council, to ensure motorists who transport controlled waste are in possession of the correct documentation.
"We regularly carry out road safety operations with partner agencies to ensure vehicles are roadworthy and drivers have the relevant licence. If not, the appropriate action will be taken.
"Staffordshire Police runs regular operations under Operation Amalgam to crack down on the theft of metal.
"Officers target waste-carrying vehicles, they deal with any defects or traffic offences and arrest occupants if there is evidence they are committing a criminal offence."
57 Comments
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by bryanseenior
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 1:56AM
“Why should you have to have a so called licence ,lets face it ,its work ,and in stoke on trent ther'e is none ,bring back elf garnet”
by zoiders
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 10:59PM
“Oh come on now Neil...tell us the truth.
Do you keep a note pad and take down the reg numbers of police cars when they drive past because you think they are following you?
Do you carry a carrier plastic shopping full of your "important documents" round with you?
Full of your notes about all the conspiracies against you?
Are the Council and the Fire Brigade in on it as well?
Please tell us more as it sounds completely fascinating.”
by rugrat_95
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 9:31PM
“Zoiders
Like Neil100 has said on several occasions
"Guilty until proven innocent"
Paranoia takes many guises amongst wrong-doers.”
by Neil100
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 9:06PM
“zoiders
I don't know why I bothered posting you again I must be crazy like you say.
Have you taken the drugs that this person had or whats your problem?”
by zoiders
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 8:38PM
“Strangely no one ever seems to be guilty with Neil100
Just own up Neil100 - you hate coppers because you keep getting caught.
Let me guess...one of those loonies who insists on defending himself in court because "they" all have it in for you?”
by Neil100
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 7:53PM
“zoiders
Same with stolen cars but a lot are sold to unsuspecting people who then lose all their money because they can be identified but they carry on being sold with all the licencing that is in place with them.”
by zoiders
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 7:45PM
“A thief does not have to be caught stealing the goods.
Recieving stolen goods in fact results a heavier sentence than simple theft, especialy if it's considered to be an on going enterprise.”
by Neil100
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 7:39PM
“MilliD
"stop the plants from paying the collectors cash so everything is recorded"
I hear thats what they have in mind, I don't know how that would work in practice unless they record everyone on CCTV as they enter the premises along with the scrap they carry otherwise it would be the word of the metal merchant against the word of the customer and that may put the metal merchants into harms way as some of these people or not nice charactors.
It may work but again at what cost to our freedoms as we already have more cctv cameras than any other country in the world.
Good suggestion though!
I don't think you are quite right with "A lot of scrap sold to scrap metal plants by small 'businesses' is stolen" perhaps the wording is wrong, I see what you are trying to say though "I think"?
The problem is that the thief has to be caught stealing the metal unless it is marked or can be identified another way that it is stolen otherwise all will fail.
I had some metal stolen turned out to be kids that then sold it to the scrap man who then doesn't know it is stolen perhaps this is what happened to you?
The scrap man in my area askes if people have any scrap, I have never had any problem or heard of any problems as "LOL" "its more then their licence is worth" or more to the point their "REPUTATION"!
So they are concentrating all their effort against the licence dodger instead of catching the thief, lucky they got it right this time but I would have liked to have heard in the article how many people innocent people have been stopped against how many criminals have been caught then we may get a true perspective.”
by MilleD
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 4:42PM
“@Neil100. Businesses don't generate 'scrap' lead -it may be a by-product.
If you get caught with 100 of your own batteries in your van you don't need a waste licence. But you may be asked to prove they are yours. And you still have to dispose of them correctly.
A lot of scrap sold to scrap metal plants by small 'businesses' is stolen - therefore the police think that by stopping guys in knackered old vans there is a fair chance there is no licence involved. Sounds fair to me.
One of them stole a cast iron barbecue from down the side of my house. That was not scrap.
I say stop the plants from paying the collectors cash so everything is recorded and a lot of people wouldn't bother.”
by Mayhem_12
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 4:02PM
“Do all the travellers in the city have a license. I presume he is a gypsy.There is only one solution and thats to confiscate the vehicle and scrap it, if fines and other documentation are not submitted. This person wont be paying his fine as he acts above the law
There does'nt seem to be any sense in fining someone who's in prison”