(2) what assistance she is planning to give to Operation Saruman in Cambridgeshire on the reduction of metal theft; and if she will make a statement.
The national task force on metal theft set up by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is currently developing its plan for co-ordinated preventative and enforcement action on metal theft.
The plan will be the focus of a national conference on metal thefts on 25 March 2008 which will be attended by representatives from the public and private sectors. The conference follows a national day of action on 28 January 2008, the results of which are currently being collated.
We are aware of police operations against metal thieves in several different force areas including Operation Saruman in Cambridgeshire. A significant part of the developing action plan will outline how local operations can be supported by national and regional partners including the provision of good practice advice and examination of the effectiveness of current legislation.