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Monday 30 Apr 2012

NETWORK RAIL GIVES SUPPORT FOR SCRAP LEGISLATIVE REFORM AS CABLE THEFT FALLS BUT PASSENGER MISERY CONTINUES IN WALES

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

• Crimes in Wales down 37% on previous year
• Disruption to passengers in Wales more than 36,000mins
• 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 Wales are having an impact Network Rail reveals today.

Crimes for the financial year 2011/12 are down 37% to 53 incidents from 84 the previous year, with majority of these crimes committed in south Wales. These incidents cost the industry, and ultimately the taxpayer and country, more than half a million in the last 12 months.

Mark Langman, route managing director for Network Rail Wales said: “Our massive effort against cable thieves is having 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 dealing with 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 Langman 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.”

Gary Cooper, head of operations at the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: “Cable theft regularly causes disruption for thousands of passengers and costs the taxpayer millions, so it is good news that the government is taking action to crack down on illegal scrap metal dealing.

“Train companies are working closely with the rest of the industry to tackle the problem, and this is an important step in helping us to succeed. But further changes to the law now need to be made to create a robust new licensing regime covering all scrap yards, giving police and councils the power to search and investigate them, and to close down any dealers involved in theft."

Tony Berkeley, chairman of the Rail Freight Group said “Cable theft continues to cause major delay to freight trains on a daily basis. Although this doesn’t often hit the headlines in the way that passenger delays do, it is causing significant problems for freight operators and their customers who include national retailers, power generators and construction companies. The cost of disruption is significant and impacts on their businesses, their employees, and ultimately the whole UK economy.

“We are pleased that UK Government has taken the first steps in tackling cable theft, alongside the continued efforts of the rail industry. But further action will be required if the impacts of cable theft are to be eliminated.”

Assistant chief constable Alan Pacey, of British Transport Police, added: “BTP is committed to tackling metal theft, particularly those thefts which have a direct impact on the running of the railway.

“We have officers dedicated to dealing with metal theft and, during 2011, arrested more than 1,000 people in connection with these crimes. In the past few months convicted metal thieves have been jailed for a total of more than 58 years thanks to British Transport Police investigations.

“We will continue to disrupt and detect thieves who target the railway and will not hesitate to put them before the courts and seek the strongest possible sanctions.”