NETWORK RAIL has revealed that the effects of cable thefts have fallen sharply in the past year, continuing an encouraging trend. The number of incidents reached a peak of 995 in 2010-11 and fell to 845 in 2011-12, but then plummeted to just 245 in the twelve months to March this year.

The number of thefts which affected train services was down by two-thirds and delay minutes were more than halved, having been reduced by 54 per cent.

Another result has been a reduction to the industry's costs, which have come down by more than £5 million and are now at a three-year low.

The industry has been working hard to reduce the damage and delays which are caused by cable thieves, who often risk their own lives and are sometimes killed or injured when they tamper with high-voltage circuits.

It has been developments away from the lineside which have made a significant contribution to the recent improvements, according to Neil Henry, who is head of operations and performance at Network Rail. He has paid tribute to the efforts of British Transport Police in finding the thieves and also bearing down hard on the scrap dealers who buy stolen metal.

The work of the police is now being aided by changes in the law, which have only come after several years of intensive lobbying. It ceased to be legal to pay cash for scrap metal in December, while the new Scrap Metal Dealers Act will come into force this autumn. This not only reinforces the restrictions on how scrap is bought but also introduces a full licensing scheme for dealers, who will be required to register with their local council.

National Grid and British Telecom have also suffered from the disruptive effects of cable thefts. Detective Chief Inspector Gill Murray of British Transport Police said: “The significant reductions during the past 12 months are encouraging and are testament to the work done by police and partner agencies to increase the risk of detection and prosecution.

“We cannot, however, take our eye off the ball and will continue to develop initiatives and tactics to make life even more challenging for thieves and unscrupulous metal recyclers.

“With new legislation due to come into force later this year, there can be no doubt that the UK remains committed to tackling a crime which strikes at the very heart of its infrastructure.”