The Home Office has announced tough measures to crackdown on rogue operators in the scrap metal industry. Mike O'Brien, Home Office minister, said the Government intended to improve the UK's “deplorable record” on car crime. “We believe the proposed regulation could prevent up to 39,000 vehicle thefts a year, as well as 6,000 fewer insurance frauds,” he said. The proposals, included in the Home Office consultation document, Regulating the motor salvage industry, would require scrap merchants to register with the appropriate authorities and maintain records of purchases and disposals. Vendors and purchasers would need identity checks and the police would have the right of entry and search without a warrant. Used car outlets that purchased vehicles from scrap merchants would be traceable from the records, as would the source that sold the vehicle to the merchant, including accident repairers and insurers.