Cable theft on the railway - Transport Committee Contents


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


 
previous page contents next page


© Parliamentary copyright 2012
Prepared 26 January 2012