GWENT Police and Caerphilly County Borough Council joined forces last week to target metal theft and raise awareness of the new licensing legislation for scrap metal dealers.

On Thursday, December 5 they publicised the new Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013.

The new law means dealers applying for a licence from their local authority will need to prove they are a suitable person to receive one.

The licence contains a current photo of the holder and a copy will need to be displayed in any vehicle a dealer uses. Records must be kept for three years.

The police made targetting metal theft a priority in April 2011 and Operation Ignite, specific to Gwent Police, was established.