Cable theft is a major problem for the rail industry, as for many other industries, including power and communications providers.  It is one of BTP’s biggest challenges at this time, because of the widespread damage and disruption it causes.

Over the last three years, cable theft has cost the rail industry £43 million and caused misery to passengers by delaying trains for a total of more than 16,000 hours.  It has also left communities without power, telephone and broadband communications.

With metal prices on world markets soaring, it is not a problem that is likely to go away.

Cable theft describes a range of activity from the “cottage industry” end of the spectrum, in which small amounts of cable are stolen, to serious organised crime. 

Patterns of crime seem to be consistent over a range of industries with the north east of England a particular hot spot. 

As well as thefts from depots, criminals are increasingly willing to risk their lives to steal live lineside cable, and it is this type of theft the causes the majority of disruption.

Although they risk their own safety, cable theft is generally not a safety issue for the railways as signals default to red if interfered with. 

So what are we doing about it?

• We have a dedicated BTP task force, are increasing patrols – day and night – and are targeting rogue scrap dealers to help choke off the market for stolen metal
• BTP has raised the profile of the issue in the police service and is taking the lead on metal theft nationally for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
• Network Rail has recently funded extra, dedicated officers
• We work with many other agencies, including the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) the Environment Agency
• A national intelligence cell has been set up with police and Network Rail.  We will soon bring in external partners.
• We use a Network Rail helicopter, CCTV, forensic marking, trembler alarms and other devices to protect cable
• Network rail is starting to use a new type of cable that is easier to identify and harder to steal and using
• Use of approved scrap yards for disposals of used materials helps police identify stolen cable
• Operation Leopard takes a strategic national of metal theft
• Proactive enforcement using, covert and overt police action
• We are encouraging better housekeeping and security at depots and lineside
• We are working closely with the British Metal Recycling Association to educate scrap metal dealers about stolen metal – highlighting what to look out for when metal and cable is brought into yards.  They have produced a code of conduct for their members
• We use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to track vehicles around suspect scrap yards
• We seized thousands of pounds worth of stolen cable:  in August 2008, the biggest single seizure to date of suspected stolen metal (more than £700,000 worth) was made in Staffordshire.
• Vehicle seizures have been carried out and environmental powers used to arrest those found burning the sheathing off cable. 
• We have helped train selected Network Rail staff to equip then with basic skills in preserving evidence at theft scenes.

You can help protect your community from the effects of cable and metal theft.  If you have information about cable theft on the railway, please let us know by calling Freefone 0800 405040 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.