1 Introduction
Our inquiry
1. Cable theft in the UK is a growth industry. In
the first half of 2011/12 there were 625 cable theft incidents
on the railway, more than in the whole of 2009/10.[1]
These thefts have a significant financial impact, with direct
costs to Network Rail amounting to £43 million over the past
three years.[2] There is
also a broader indirect impact on the wider economy, estimated
to be of a similar magnitude. Cable theft causes significant disruption
and delay for passengers and last year resulted in an estimated
3.8 million passenger journeys being delayed or cancelled.[3]
2. Cable theft forms part of a broader trend of metal
theft from public spaces. This includes thefts from churches,
war memorials and utilities companies. The frequency of these
crimes has increased as the price of metals on global commodity
markets has grown and this trend does not show signs of reversing.
Metal theft may affect transport provision in a number of ways
including theft of: cables from the railway, platinum from catalytic
converters, communications cables from the Coastguard Service
or air traffic control and theft of metal from bus stops.[4]
We inquired specifically into cable theft on the railway because
of the growing costs and disruption associated with this crime.
However, some of our recommendations will help combat all forms
of metal theft.
3. We launched our inquiry in October 2011. We asked
for evidence concerning the recent increases in cable theft, its
effects on passengers and rail services, potential safety implications
and how cable theft could be prevented. We received 17 submissions
of written evidence and undertook two oral evidence sessions.
On 8 November we heard evidence from Network Rail, the Association
of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), the British Transport Police
(BTP) and the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA). Following
this session, we questioned the Parliamentary Under-Secretary
of State for Transport, Norman Baker MP, on 29 November. We are
grateful to those who provided oral and written evidence and we
would like to thank our rail specialist adviser Richard Goldson
for his assistance.
4. In this report we comment on the extent of the
cable theft problem and the effects that this has on both the
rail industry and passengers. We consider the reasons why cable
theft has become such a significant issue, both in terms of the
global market for copper and the domestic market for metals. We
then assess the methods available for prevention and enforcement
and make recommendations for reform.
1 Ev 21 para 3. Back
2
Ev 21 para 2. Back
3
Ev 29. Back
4
Q 79, Ev 36 para 1.2. Back
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