FOURTEEN people were arrested and tens of thousands of pounds of cash was seized during a raid on scrap metal dealer in East Yorkshire.

Officers from British Transport Police’s major investigation team, the national dedicated cable squad, the force’s hi-tech crime unit and the financial investigation team, supported by North Yorkshire Police and Network Rail, were involved in a day of action as they continue to crack down on scrap metal dealers suspected of receiving stolen metal.

The team, under the codename Operation Rifle, raided two premises - Wagstaff Recycling in Long Lane and a house in Templar Close in Goole – and arrested 14 people. Six members of staff were taken into custody but all 14 were later bailed.

During the raid, officers and a sniffer dog uncovered £62,000 and seized CCTV footage, computers, mobile phones and computer hard drives.

Metal thieves have been the scourge of British Transport Police, who say soaring thefts of cables – on train lines such as the East Coast Main Line – are putting lives at risk and worsening train delays for passengers, with the problem rising year on year.

The problem is said to be costing the UK economy £1 billion a year.

Last November, rail passengers in North and East Yorkshire were hit by delays after thieves stole copper cables at Hessle, near Hull.

In September, rail passengers travelling to and from York were hit by delays after thieves stole 50 metres of signalling cable. Following the incident, ten trains had to be cancelled and 175 services were delayed for more than 35 hours in total.

In 2010, thieves risked life and limb to steal high-voltage electricity cables in Selby, causing £100,000 damage.

Detective Inspector Paul Langley, of British Transport Police’s major investigation team, headed up Wednesday’s day of action.

He said: “This operation targeted a key scrap metal dealer who we suspect of handling stolen metal and profiting from proceeds of metal theft and money laundering.

“Scrap metal dealers have a responsibility to ensure the metal they buy is from legitimate sources. It is not acceptable to turn a blind eye to stolen metal.

“By helping criminals to turn stolen metal into cash, often quickly and easily, dealers are fuelling this crime which is blighting our infrastructure and disrupting the lives of ordinary people on a daily basis.

“Whilst longer term we are looking for a change to the legislation to make it harder for stolen metal to be sold, we will continue to work within the current legislation to target the business practices of those dealers who wilfully flout the law for their own gain.”

The Metal Theft (Prevention) Bill, aimed at introducing a licensing scheme for scrap metal dealers, banning cash-in-hand deals and giving police more powers to search scrapyards, is intended to tackle the national problem.