A COUNCILLOR says people should have to produce photo identification if they want to buy or sell scrap metal.

Cllr Hugo Deynem, who serves the Tarvin and Kelsall ward on Cheshire West and Cheshire Council, believes a record of all registration numbers should also be made to deter thieves from targeting the county’s historic buildings and monuments due to soaring values of second-hand scrap metal.

He expressed his views on Twitter after seeing the Chronicle front page about a planned crackdown on criminals who steal from or vandalise treasured landmarks causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

About 50 delegates with law enforcement and heritage expertise recently met in Chester to come up with ways of combating crimes on historic buildings, which include theft, vandalism, graffiti and arson. Some landmarks are even used as a public toilet and drug-taking den.

Cllr Deynem tweeted: “Ensure anyone buying or selling scrap metal produces photo ID and record all vehicle reg numbers used in the transport of same.”

He then posted another tweet, adding: “Now our community memorials are at risk to metal thieves, once plaques are stolen there are no records of missing names. Time for records?”

Cheshire-based firm Maxiflow, which specialises in forensic marking and has Chester Cathedral as one of its clients, believes replacing lead, copper and brass with a material that has a low resale value would prevent irreplaceable damage to stonework caused by thieves and vandals.

Chief Inspector Damien Smethurst said: “We continue to take other steps to address the problem of metal theft by visiting scrap metal merchants and examining audit reports of the metal they buy and sell.

“Where there is a discrepancy, or the dealer possesses a significant amount of a certain metal without reasonable explanation, we will investigate further.”

During the past year criminals have targeted the city’s Roman remains, The Rows, Chester Cathedral, Beeston Castle, Tarvin Hall and a Second World War pillbox in Saltney.

There has also been 14 attacks on churches as well as incidents involving war memorials and manor houses.