Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle cable theft on railway infrastructure in (a) Tyne and Wear, (b) North East England and (c) the UK.

British Transport Police (BTP) engages in regular enforcement activity to combat cable theft, as well as joint working with partner agencies such as local police forces, local authorities, the environment agency and other stakeholders such as HMRC, VOSA and Network Rail.

BTP response teams in the North East continue to focus patrol and investigative resources in cable theft hotspots. BTP is using a number of tactics, both covert and overt, to investigate these offences. BTP also uses technological solutions to combat cable theft.

Within the last fortnight three suspects in the Hartlepool Area have been arrested for cable theft and the matter is being investigated.