Media centre

Monday 30 Apr 2012

NETWORK RAIL GIVES SUPPORT FOR SCRAP LEGISLATION REFORM AS CABLE THEFT FALLS IN SOUTH YORKS AND LINCS BUT PASSENGER MISERY INCREASES

Region & Route:

• Crimes down 5% on previous year
• Disruption to passengers up to 823 hours
• Full legislative reform believed to be only way to stem the tide

Efforts by the rail industry to stop the cost and misery caused by cable thieves in south Yorkshire and Lincolnshire are having an impact Network Rail reveals today.

Crimes for the financial year 2011/12 are down 5% to 160 incidents from 168 the previous year. However delay to passengers and compensation costs continue to rise, from £1.5m to £1.8m; an increase of 13% because the thefts have spread to busier and more complex parts of the network.

Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail’s London North Eastern (LNE) route, said: “The LNE route has been at the frontline of the battle against the misery caused by cable thieves for several years. It is encouraging to see that the hard work of hundreds of people is having effect in stemming the tide of crimes affecting rail services. However metal theft continues to cost the railway and the economy millions of pounds every year through missed appointments and delayed freight deliveries. This is unacceptable and it is clear that significant changes to the law are the only way to significantly reduce this problem.”

The government has indicated that cash transactions for scrap will be outlawed. However Network Rail and the wider rail industry are united in calling for full reform of the 1964 Scrap Metal Dealers Act. This needs to include:

· an updated, fully funded licensing scheme to replace the voluntary registration currently in place.

· magistrates should also have the power to impose restrictions upon, and ultimately enforce the closure of, yards that fail to keep to the law.

· police powers to enter, inspect and if necessary close scrap dealers are essential. At present they may only enter registered premises with a warrant.

· a requirement for scrap metal dealers to require proof of identity and to keep adequate records about their customers.

· Additional requirements on itinerant metal dealers’ vehicle licences to enable those operating outside the law to be impounded.

The LNE route has invested millions of pounds protecting the railway – including investing in CCTV and other technology; funding more rapid-response staff, private security firms and extra British Transport Police officers. This has combined with public support in reporting criminals and improved sentencing in courts.

Mr Verster added, “The public can be our eyes and ears on the network and I would like to thank the people of south Yorkshire and Lincolnshire for their continued support reporting suspicious activity both on the railway and at disreputable scrap dealers. Everything possible is being done to stop these thieves but I firmly believe that the law needs substantial change in order to take away the easy market for illegal scrap.”

“Delay to passengers and compensation cost to Network Rail from cable theft is actually up year on year. This is largely down to the locations the thieves are targeting and the amount of damage being caused in incidents which is increasing the length of time it takes to fix an incident, making it more expensive.”

Richard Allan, area director for Northern Rail, comments: “Cable theft is an extremely dangerous crime and one which carries fatal risks. It is one of the single biggest causes of disruption to our services; resulting in delays to thousands of our customers.

It’s inspiring to see that the work done by Network Rail and British Transport Police to combat cable theft on our network has helped reduce the number of incidents on our railways and in turn, improve customers’ journeys.”

Alain Thauvette, chief executive of DB Schenker Rail (UK) said, "Last year cable theft caused over 45,000 minutes of delay to our freight trains, interrupting important deliveries to customers including supermarkets, steel works and power stations and unnecessarily increasing industry costs. We welcome the outlawing of cash transactions for scrap, but urge the Government to continue with the other necessary reforms to address the problem.”

Terry Nicholson, area commander for British Transport Police in the north east, added: “Metal theft in any form is an attack on communities, but when thieves target the railway they often have a significant impact on passengers in the shape of delays and cancellations caused by severed power or damage to communications cable. This is totally unacceptable and our work to tackle these thieves continues

“We are having a great deal of success in tackling cable theft in the north east, but the region remains the hardest hit in Britain in terms of theft from the rail network and we are committed to continue to drive down this type of crime further,” he added

“Our region accounts for 42% of the country’s rail cable theft. The ongoing commitment and hard work by the teams of officers tackling the problem, and partnership working alongside Network Rail and Home Office forces is having a positive impact.

“During 2011 BTP arrested more than 1,000 people on suspicion of metal theft, with a number receiving lengthy prison sentences. We will continue to take firm action against anyone who commits this crime and threatens the running of the railway.”