Metal theft task force funding blow

Cable theft cost Network Rail £16 million last year

The Government has ruled out any immediate further funding in the fight to combat cable theft on the railways, it was revealed today.

The news came in the Government's response to a report on cable theft by the House of Commons Transport Committee.

Publishing the Government response today, the committee's chairman Louise Ellman MP said she was "disappointed" the Government would not provide further resources.

She said cable theft cost Network Rail £16 million last year and disrupted more than 35,000 rail journeys.

In its report, the committee had recommended the Government should consider providing extra resources beyond the £5 million it had given to the British Transport Police's metal theft task force.

In its response, the Government said: "Given the progress it is making with legislative measures to tackle metal theft, the Government does not consider at this stage that further funding is likely to be required to extend the scope or duration of the metal theft task force, but will keep the issue under review."

Mrs Ellman said: "Cable theft continues to disrupt train journeys for thousands of passengers across the UK.

"I am disappointed that the Government will not provide further resources for the police to tackle metal theft despite BTP's leading work in this area.

"Cable theft cost Network Rail £16 million last year and disrupted over 35,000 journeys, so the Government should not sit back and wait whilst these figures are repeated.

"The Government's announcement must be translated into action if this unacceptable situation is to be addressed with the urgency that is required."

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "The coalition Government is strongly committed to tackling metal theft and is taking decisive action.

"As well as providing £5 million of funding for a new task force, tough action is under way to crack down on metal and cable thieves by introducing a ban on cash payments by scrap metal dealers, significantly increasing the fines for all offences under the existing Scrap Metal Dealers Act, and providing police officers with sufficient powers of entry to tackle illegal trading in metal yards."