Allow us to license, inspect scrap metal dealers, pleads Iteere

By Cyrus Ombati

Police want a law that allowed them to license and regularly inspect scrap metal businesses reinstated.
Commissioner of Police Mathew Iteere said at the weekend the law that was scrapped by the Finance minister five years ago is negatively affecting businesses.

Iteere said their demand is an effort to draw a sustainable strategy to prevent rampant theft of electric and telecommunications cables belonging to various service providers.

“We realised the removal of this requirement meant that any person could deal in scrap metal and used motor vehicle parts.”

Roads and highways
The police boss noted there is rise in cases where motor vehicles are stolen, stripped and sold as spare parts, adding even guardrails fitted on roads and highways for safety have not been spared.

“In an endeavour to empower police officers to monitor business premises of scrap metal dealers and used motor vehicle parts, we have written to the minster to reinstate that law,” he said.

The police boss spoke at Kenya Police Athletics event at Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi. Cases of cable vandalism have been on the rise in the recent past affecting operations of telecommunication companies.

In some cases, vehicles are stolen and cut into pieces. Iteere also ordered all OCS to work with the public so that they can timely get information on suspicious activities and characters.

Senseless criminals
“We must now increase our surveillance on roads, places of worship, business premises, vital installations and all other institutions that can be targeted by senseless criminals,” he said.

Iteere said terrorism is a real threat to citizens and urged for concerted efforts to defeat it.
“Similarly, every person of goodwill must join the police in the war against terrorism and the rejection of crime as a means to any end.”