Council workers accused of metal theft

It is understood 13 workers, ranging from highways workers up to supervisory level, are being investigated after claims that Hull Council vans were used to transport the metal.

It is a major embarrassment for the authority, which has backed Humberside Police’s high-profile campaign aimed at combating regional metal theft.

The city’s former Lord Mayor Colin Inglis last year branded the theft of a council-owned bronze statue on the riverfront “an assault upon the traditions and culture of the city.”

Voyage, which commemorated links between Hull and Iceland forged by the fishing industry, has only recently been reinstalled at the cost of £40,000.

It is alleged that the workers stole the metal to sell onto scrap merchants, who were not the council’s preferred dealer.

Council leader Steve Brady said: “It is incredibly embarrassing. I have made it quite clear that I want the whole thing sorting out and I want a result and a strong message going out to all of the staff who work for Hull City Council.”

The staff involved work for the street scene department, which was based at the recently-closed Dalton Street depot. Machinery used to fill sandbags during the 2007 floods is believed to be among items said to have been stolen, as is metal from the now closed buildings at Dalton Street.

Humberside Police confirmed that Hull Council had not yet referred the issue to the force.

South Yorkshire Police recently arrested 18 people during a four-day crackdown on metal thefts.