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Monday 30 Apr 2012

NETWORK RAIL GIVES SUPPORT FOR SCRAP LEGISLATION REFORM AS CABLE THEFT IN EAST MIDLANDS FALLS BUT PASSENGER MISERY CONTINUES

Region & Route:

• Crimes down 30% on previous year
• Disruption to passengers still more than 59 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 the east midlands are having an impact, Network Rail reveals today.

Crimes for the financial year 2011/12 are down 30% to 23 incidents from 33 the previous year. Cost and delay are also down. However nationally the total cost to the industry, and ultimately the taxpayer and country, continues to rise because the thefts have spread to busier and more complex parts of the network.

Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail in the East Midlands, said: “Our massive effort against cable thieves is having a great effect. Crimes and delay to passengers are both down on last year. However they are still at an unacceptably high level. We firmly believe that without legal reform we will continue to see thousands of hours delay and millions of pounds wasted because of these crimes.”

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.

Network Rail has invested millions of pounds protecting key locations and funding extra British Transport Police officers. This has combined with public support in reporting criminals and improved sentencing in courts.

Mr Frobisher added, “We are grateful for the public support we continue to receive in reporting suspicious activity – both on the railway and at disreputable scrap dealers. We will continue to do all we can to stop these thieves but it is clear the law needs substantial change in order to take away the easy market for illegal scrap.”

“Nationally, total direct 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.”

CrossCountry's managing director, Andy Cooper, added: "The rail industry and police are working hard to prevent instances of cabe theft, but stronger legal powers are needed to stop these crimes on Britain's railways. Last year over 1,400 CrossCountry services were affected by cable theft, meaning more than 200,000 of our customers had their journeys delayed because of these crimonal acts."

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.”