Action targeting metal thieves

Date published: 22/04/2008

British Transport Police (BTP) is joining forces with rail police across Europe in a day of action targeting metal thieves today (Tuesday 22 April).

"Because of ever rising commodity prices, metal theft is now major economic crime across Europe, not least in the rail industry," commented BTP Chief Constable Ian Johnston, who also leads for the Association of Chief Police Officers in their Crime Business Area.

"For BTP, combating cable theft across Britain’s rail system remains one of our biggest challenges and this concerted action across Europe is just one element in a continuing police effort to thwart the thieves."

Eleven European police forces are taking part in the Day of Action, which is being co-ordinated through Railpol, the European railway policing organisation.

In Britain, BTP will be joined by law enforcement partners from across Britain in action designed to prevent, detect and deter the theft and disposal of metals.

BTP is undertaking activity across Britain, including raids and arrests of known suspects, checks at scrap metal yards, helicopter patrols and covert and overt operations. Scrap yards which have previously failed to comply with the Scrap Metal Dealers’ Act will be a particular target.

Operations using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), which have proved efffective in the past in disrupting criminal activity, will be run at strategic points around the country. BTP officers will also be undertaking crime reduction work conducting audits and security reviews on the rail network.

"We are using every method at our disposal to tackle this type of crime and in particular we will be looking to arrest and prosecute those involved," commented Detective Superintendent Ashley Croft from BTP.

"Our message is clear: those involved in metal theft will be caught and brought to justice.

"Cable theft on the rail system involves not only great financial loss, but causes hours of delays to millions of passengers. It is also hazardous for those involved who put themselves at risk by trespassing on lines and for others, including children, who may use trespass routes opened up by thieves. This is certainly not a victimless crime."

The Railpol day of action comes a month after ACPO held its first ever metal theft conference in London. That brought together law enforcement agencies, representatives of the metal recycling industry, utilities and government to look at co-operative ways of dealing with the growing problem.

The UK metal recycling sector has a turnover of £3.5 billion annually and is itself one of the main victims of metal thieves, who steal metal in transit and from yards. The estimated cost of metal theft to UK industry is £360 million a year.

Robin Gisby, Director of Operations and Customer Services at Network Rail said: "We are working closely with BTP to prevent thefts and catch culprits and I urge anyone who sees people acting suspiciously around the railway to report it immediately to the police. Our failsafe system means any cut cable turns all signals in the area to red bringing all nearby trains to a halt. Passengers are therefore not at risk but they are massively inconvenienced by the delays that are caused. The only people at risk are the thieves themselves who put their own lives on the line with trespassing on the railway."

"Communities can help", said Detective Superintendent Croft. "We need information on who is committing these crimes or dealing in stolen metal."

Anyone with information on metal theft from the railways can contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, call 999.