Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce a nationwide policing strategy to prevent the theft of materials from charging stations.

Theft, including the theft of cables is a serious issue. This Government recognises the distress and disruption that theft and vandalism can cause, not only to businesses, but also to local communities and critical infrastructure.

The Home Office provided initial funding to establish the National Infrastructure Crime Reduction Partnership. The Partnership ensures national co-ordination of policing and law enforcement partners to tackle metal theft. It also provides training to police officers to help with tackling metal theft, and facilitates data and intelligence sharing to partners to target offenders and implement crime prevention measures.

The Home Office will also continue to support the extensive work undertaken by the British Transport Police in partnership with organisations such as Network Rail to further improve the enforcement response to metal theft. This includes supporting the Metal Crime Steering Group led by the National Police Chiefs Council lead for metal theft, Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle, whose aim is to disrupt those involved in this area of crime.

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 was introduced to reduce metal theft by strengthening regulation of the scrap metal industry. Enforcement of the Act is key to reducing metal theft. Following the introduction of the Act, there was an overall downward trend in metal-related theft offences. The latest figures for the year ending March 2024 are 64% lower than in the previous year.