THE fight against metal thieves and illegal waste carriers in Bexley continues with another swoop by various authorities.

Roadside checks were carried out in Ray Lamb Way, off Manor Road, Erith, one of the main route’s to the borough’s scrapyards.

Sergeant James Coomber from Erith Safer Neighbourhoods policing team explained: “Erith has some of the largest scrapyards in the south east, the biggest being the size of two football pitches.”

Metal thefts in Bexley have increased significantly and, since last October, Sgt Coomber has introduced a wide range of tactics to prevent and detect metal theft.

These include teaming up with other agencies such as Bexley Council, British Telecom, which is looking for stolen copper cabling, SmartWater and the Department for Work and Pensions.

During the latest swoop, more than 60 vehicles were stopped over a two-day period.

Six drivers were each fined £300 for not being registered to carry waste and eight vehicles were seized by police because the drivers were not insured to carry waste.

Each driver was also fined £200 and had six points added to his licence.

One driver sparked a helicopter and police dog search.

He abandoned his vehicle when he turned the corner and saw the police checking vehicles, running off across the marshes.

The man was eventually discovered hiding in dense undergrowth on the marshes.

He was also fined £200 with six penalty points for being uninsured.

Sgt Coomber said: “While the majority of the metal recycling business is entirely legitimate, there is a thriving trade in stolen metal.

“This was by far the most successful operation of its type conducted to date.”

In addition to illegal waste carrying, the swoop also uncovered other crimes.

Two men from Greenwich were arrested on suspicion of money laundering, when their top-of-the-range BMW failed to stop at the checkpoint.

A search of the car uncovered more than £2,000 in cash.

The money and the car were seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act and the two men were bailed pending further enquiries.

The Department for Work and Pensions was there to find people fraudulently claiming benefits.

Its staff identified 22 people suspected of benefit fraud, including one man driving a van loaded with scrap metal, who was also claiming incapacity benefit because of a bad back and a leg injury.

Most of them had their benefits stopped on the spot, pending a detailed inquiry into their circumstances.