New trial aims to tackle railway cable theft

Date: 10/1/2012

A new trial has been launched in a bid to combat the problem of metal theft on the UK's railways.

Minister for Crime Prevention and Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction Lord Henley, as well as the British Transport Police and forces in Durham, Cleveland and Northumbria, has teamed up with the British Metals Recycling Association for the initiative.

Individuals selling scrap metal in the three counties will now be required to provide ID and a recent utility bill to confirm their address.

Network Rail explained metal theft is a growing problem and because trains stop automatically when cables are cut, it can cause serious delays.

It also costs more than £19 million a year - money that could be better spent on improving railways.

A spokesperson for the Association of Chief Police Officers said the new scheme "has been designed not to inhibit those dealers that operate legitimate businesses, but to deter thieves and cut crime."

Posted by Mary Treen