A scrap metal dealer, who was at the centre of a police operation, has said traders are taking the hit rather than the thieves.

Les Saunders, the director of family firm Saunders Metals Ltd, was arrested following the raid in January but was later released without charge.

It was part of a Wiltshire-wide operation, code-named Herald, targeting scrap metal dealers following a national spike in the crime.

While copper cabling and lead was seized by officers, the 49-year-old said he was able to account for it.

He said he and his team were committed to working with police to tackle metal theft.

“We have always helped the police and we understand it is a massive problem with scrap being stolen,” he said.

“We have all the checks and when customers come in we take their name and details – we ask them where it has come from and everything is logged double.

“We are vigilant against stolen metal and want to stop it.

“It has had an impact on us because it gives the trade a bad name.

“We deal with a multi-billion pound industry and we have been trading for 30 years.

“We deal with some big companies and not with a guy who just turns up in a van – that would set alarm bells ringing.

“I think we get tarred with the wrong brush – people think we are like Steptoe And Son and that image never did anything for the industry.

“With all the rules and regulations we have to meet it is not possible to operate like that.

“We have been victims too, as only a couple of weeks ago someone tried to break in. It is not a new problem.”

In January the Home Office announced a proposed amendment to the Legal Aid, Sentencing And Punishment of Offenders Bill to ban dealers paying in cash.

But Les said he thought it would just restrict trade to licensed dealers.

He said: “I don’t think banning cash is the answer. It’s going to hit us harder than the people who are stealing. We are being penalised.

“Next it will be that you won’t be able to go to Tesco and buy your shopping with cash.

“I don’t think the politicians understand the industry very much.

“We are a small to medium business and employ 16 people. It is difficult with the recession and we as an industry are being penalised.”