Arriva Trains Wales | TRANSPORT POLICE TARGET SCRAP METAL THIEVES

TRANSPORT POLICE TARGET SCRAP METAL THIEVES

British Transport Police have targeted seven scrap metal dealers in South Wales as part of a European day of action against metal thieves.

BTP Helicopter On Tuesday 22 April, officers visited the scrap metal dealers in Pontypridd, Merthyr and Rhymney areas alongside the Environment Agency Wales. At one of the sites in Pontypridd, BTP recovered some railway cable, while no arrests were made, an investigation has been launched.

Acting Detective Inspector Mark Cleland from BTP, said: “Proactive visits like these and working with scrap metal dealers helps reduce the marketplace for stolen metal, acts as a deterrent and can be a valuable source of intelligence."

The Environment Agency Wales said the operation was a success as they uncovered several problems in the area, in particular one waste management site which was storing asbestos and several vehicles which were carrying waste without the proper licenses.

Bob James, Senior Environmental Crime Officer with Environment Agency Wales:

"The success of this operation really underlines the benefits of organisations collaborating to tackle crime, and I look forward to continuing to work with British Transport Police in the future. It was good to know that our efforts were protecting the railways as well as the environment."

BTP was joined by law enforcement partners from across Britain in action designed to prevent, detect and deter the theft and disposal of metals. As part of the nationally coordinated operation BTP made 13 arrests, visited 57 scrap metal dealers and conducted 13 crime reduction visits. Helicopter patrols in the North East of England also took place.

Eleven European police forces took part in the Day of Action, which was co-ordinated through Railpol, the European railway policing organisation.

BTP Chief Constable Ian Johnston, who also leads for the Association of Chief Police Officers in their Crime Business Area, said: “Because of ever rising commodity prices, metal theft is now major economic crime across Europe, not least in the rail industry.

"For BTP, combating cable theft across Britain’s rail system remains one of our biggest challenges and this concerted action across Europe is just one element in a continuing police effort to thwart the thieves."

Detective Superintendent Ashley Croft from BTP said: "Our message is clear: those involved in metal theft will be caught and brought to justice.

"Cable theft on the rail system involves not only great financial loss, but causes hours of delays to millions of passengers. It is also hazardous for those involved who put themselves at risk by trespassing on lines and for others, including children, who may use trespass routes opened up by thieves. This is certainly not a victimless crime."

The Railpol day of action comes a month after ACPO held its first ever metal theft conference in London. That brought together law enforcement agencies, representatives of the metal recycling industry, utilities and government to look at co-operative ways of tackling the problem.

The UK metal recycling sector has a turnover of £3.5 billion annually and is itself one of the main victims of metal thieves. The estimated cost of metal theft to UK industry is £360 million a year.

Robin Gisby, Director of Operations and Customer Services at Network Rail said: "We are working closely with BTP to prevent thefts and catch culprits and I urge anyone who sees people acting suspiciously around the railway to report it immediately to the police. Our failsafe system means any cut cable turns all signals in the area to red bringing all nearby trains to a halt. Passengers are therefore not at risk but they are massively inconvenienced by the delays that are caused. The only people at risk are the thieves themselves who put their own lives on the line with trespassing on the railway."

"Communities can help,” said Detective Superintendent Croft. "We need information on who is committing these crimes or dealing in stolen metal."

Anyone with information on metal theft from the railways can contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, call 999.