A rural district council has become a pioneer in tackling the national problem of metal theft, thanks to the dedication of its public protection team, whose work has made it winner in the Public Protection category of The MJ Awards. Michael Burton reports.

It puts a new perspective on the phrase,'Think global, act local', but thieves are doing exactly that. The soaring global demand for metal has pushed up prices and, in turn, created a lucrative black market for stolen goods estimated in the UK at some £770m a year.