Police search scrap metal dealerships across Kent

Seven men have been charged after dawn raids across Thanet and a drugs warrant last month.

The raids yesterday were to crack down on metal thefts, but all those appearing in Margate magistrates' court today are on drugs charges.

They are:

Marcus Vella, 38, of Burlington Drive, Beltinge, charged with producing and conspiring to produce a class B drug (cannabis) and abstracting electricity without authority.

John Powders, 46, of Northdown Road, Margate, charged with supplying and being concerned in the supply of a class B drug (amphetamine) and supplying a class A drug (cocaine).

Andrew Bailey, 22, of Conyngham Close, Ramsgate, charged with being concerned in the supply and offer to supply a class A drug (cocaine) and being concerned in the supply and offer to supply a class B drug (amphetamine).

Stuart McClean, 43, of Riversdale Road, Ramsgate, charged with the possession of a class B drug (amphetamine) and supplying a class B drug (amphetamine).

Three other men were charged and will appear before magistrates on March 8:

Curtis Woolley, 35, of Linnington Road, Ramsgate, charged with producing and conspiring to produce a class B drug (cannabis) and abstracting electricity without authority.

Daniel Rolfe, 38, of Staplehurst Gardens, Margate, charged with handling stolen goods (two offences).

Andrew Rowland, 24, of Marlborough Road, Ramsgate, charged with handling stolen goods (nine counts).

It comes after police teams raided eight homes and two commercial properties across Thanet yesterday.

Seven scrap yards were also visited across Kent. At sites in Ramsgate, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Tenterden search warrants were executed and road checks held close to the businesses.

At yards in Aylesford, Erith and Canterbury, staff were given advice by police about their responsibilities under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act. Road checks were also carried out.

Speaking yesterday, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Fotheringham said: "For the more unscrupulous, engaging in this sort of crime is a very tempting way of making a lot of money and helps fund other criminals activities so this is a targeted approach to taking out those crime networks."

"We have a real issue in Thanet with people breaking into unoccupied properties and stripping the premises of copper wiring and other metals which can net thousands and thousands of pounds what with the price of metal so high.

"We’re after those people who are turning up at such premises on a regular basis with high volumes of metal.

"Whilst it’s perfectly normal for a plumber to collect his offcuts and trade them in at the end of the month to recoup a hundred pounds or so, anyone turning up three or four times a week with large quantities should raise suspicions at law-abiding scrapyards."

"It’s becoming a real problem both county- and nationwide. In the last six weeks in East Kent alone we’ve seen telegraph poles cut down to get to the wiring, which led to 2,000 people losing power to their homes."