RAIL INDUSTRY UNITES IN SUPPORT FOR SCRAP LEGISLATION REFORM AS CABLE THEFT FALLS BUT PASSENGER AND FREIGHT MISERY CONTINUES: Cable theft passenger poster

Monday 30 Apr 2012

RAIL INDUSTRY UNITES IN SUPPORT FOR SCRAP LEGISLATION REFORM AS CABLE THEFT FALLS BUT PASSENGER AND FREIGHT MISERY CONTINUES

Region & Route:
National
  • Crimes down 15% on previous year
  • Disruption to passengers still more than 5,700 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 are having an impact Network Rail revealed at a summit in April.

Crimes affecting train services were down 15% in 2011/12 to 844 incidents from 995 the previous year. However the total direct cost to the industry, and ultimately the taxpayer and country, continues to rise from £16.4m to £18.3m; an increase of 12% because the thefts have spread to busier and more complex parts of the network.

On 23 April Network Rail hosted a rail summit to share best practise and information on how to fight the thieves. Attendees included representation from Network Rail’s routes and functions as well as train and freight operators, British Transport Police and the ORR. Transport Minister Norman Baker gave the keynote speech, in which he underlined the Government’s commitment to tackling this crime, saying “We are determined to stamp out the working practices which reward thieves. I am pleased we are now seeing some real, effective prosecutions and have the ability to send out the real message that it is simply not worth trying to steal metal because we are on the case. We are on the case in Government, you are on the case in the industry and police are on e case as well.”

Dyan Crowther, director, operational services for Network Rail, said: “Our massive effort against cable thieves is having effect. Crimes and delay to passengers and freight are 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 on these crimes.”

The government has indicated that cash transactions for scrap will be outlawed. However, in an open letter to the Sunday Times (29 April), Network Rail, the Association of Train Operating Companies and Rail Freight Group called for full reform of the 1964 Scrap Metal Dealers Act 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.

Mrs Crowther 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.”

“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.”

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.”

Notes to editors

Please see attached documents for detailed figures
For further information about the rail metal theft summit please contact Rachel Lowe

Any crime on the network should be reported to BTP 0800 40 50 40

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