Power distributor’s campaign versus metal theft

Europe – ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN), the licensed electricity distributor for Central and Southern Scotland as well as for North Wales and parts of England, is launching a hard-hitting advertising campaign ‘in response to the worrying number of thefts and attempted thefts of metal from electricity substations’. The company will offer rewards of up to £10 000 (US$ 16 000) for information about criminals that leads to a conviction.

The campaign will seek to illustrate the ‘very real safety threats’ posed by ‘mindless criminal activity’ in and around its substations and power lines. Theft or acts of vandalism can harm equipment and disrupt voltages, which can potentially lead to damaged household appliances or even cause fires, it points out.

‘Thieves typically leave damaged substations unsecured, which puts children and other passers-by at risk,’ it adds. ‘Engineers and staff from the emergency services who respond to faults are also unnecessarily put at risk in order to enter damaged substations to fix the faults that have been caused.’

Not without victims

Since January 2011, the company has experienced 1435 individual substation attacks, putting an estimated 140 000 homes at increased risk. SPEN’s ceo Frank Mitchell comments: ‘It is a misconception that stealing metal from a substation or a power line is a victimless crime.’ In 2013 alone, he adds, an attempted theft has resulted in a fatality while a whole street has been affected by a power surge, causing damage in their homes.

The ‘Copped It’ campaign will be conducted in print publications and on radio, with its messages including ‘Stealing copper. Is it worth it?’ and ‘Copper theft is dangerous and damages lives. One day it could be yours.’

For more information, visit: www.spenergynetworks.co.uk