Back to news & events
We are backing the launch of a dedicated service for the public to report energy related crime.
Crimestoppers has partnered with the industry to launch stayenergysafe.co.uk, to host a first of its kind reporting service for the public to report energy crime.
The new service urges landlords, tenants, businesses and the public to come forward and report any suspicions or evidence of crime, either through the website, or on the dedicated number, 0800 023 2777.
With 150,000 cases of energy theft investigated every year, the charity aims to inform the public of the consequences of energy theft and appeal for information.
As part of the new service, the national charity is working with all 96 of the UK’s main energy providers and distributors, including us, to launch the UK’s first ever dedicated energy crime hotline and urge the public to provide information and help ‘pull the plug’ on energy crime.
Ofgem states that the reported cost of energy theft to the UK public is around £440 million each year. This would be enough to power over 400,000 homes.
However, tampered and bypassed meters are costing the UK more than money. The risk to life and property is very real, as some people seek new ways to cheat the system. This can potentially result in fatal consequences, which Crimestoppers and the energy industry are asking for the public’s help to reduce.
Around 1,500 people in the UK are charged by the police for energy theft each year. If found guilty, they are likely to have to pay back the value of energy stolen, plus the costs of the investigation. But the outcome can also include community service, or even a prison sentence of up to five years.
Crimestoppers’ Chief Executive, Mark Hallas, said: “It’s no exaggeration to say that this is a ground-breaking agreement that we have forged with the energy industry to ensure that crimes such as meter tampering are clamped down on.
“This isn’t just about supporting the industry, though, it’s about our duty to the communities we work with. Explosions and fires as a result of energy theft can be devastating, which is why we are running this service on behalf of the industry, to ensure our streets are safe.”
Ofgem’s Chief Executive Dermot Nolan comments: “Energy theft costs the UK hundreds of millions of pounds each year and puts people’s lives at risk. This is why we’re working with the energy industry to clamp down on this crime. The hotline will be an important tool to help end this offense. We are urging the public to use it, and pull the plug on energy theft once and for all.”
Peter Lowe, WPD’s Security Co-ordinator, is supporting this campaign.
He said: “I’m keen to back this service being launched by Crimestoppers because energy theft can have serious consequences. People involved in such criminal activities are putting at risk the lives of our engineers who have to repair and replace infrastructure that may have been left in an unsafe condition. Similarly, other innocent people could become victims.
It’s also incredibly inconvenient for our customers – especially those who rely on electricity for things like dialysis machines – for often when thefts occur power supplies are disrupted. We hope that the new service will help to prevent this from happening.”
To report an incident of energy crime call the Energy Safe reporting service on 0800 023 2777 or fill out an anonymous, non-traceable form at stayenergysafe.co.uk.
With Crimestoppers help...
22/09/2016
We are backing the launch of a dedicated service for the public to report energy related crime.
Crimestoppers has partnered with the industry to launch stayenergysafe.co.uk, to host a first of its kind reporting service for the public to report energy crime.
The new service urges landlords, tenants, businesses and the public to come forward and report any suspicions or evidence of crime, either through the website, or on the dedicated number, 0800 023 2777.
With 150,000 cases of energy theft investigated every year, the charity aims to inform the public of the consequences of energy theft and appeal for information.
As part of the new service, the national charity is working with all 96 of the UK’s main energy providers and distributors, including us, to launch the UK’s first ever dedicated energy crime hotline and urge the public to provide information and help ‘pull the plug’ on energy crime.
Ofgem states that the reported cost of energy theft to the UK public is around £440 million each year. This would be enough to power over 400,000 homes.
However, tampered and bypassed meters are costing the UK more than money. The risk to life and property is very real, as some people seek new ways to cheat the system. This can potentially result in fatal consequences, which Crimestoppers and the energy industry are asking for the public’s help to reduce.
Around 1,500 people in the UK are charged by the police for energy theft each year. If found guilty, they are likely to have to pay back the value of energy stolen, plus the costs of the investigation. But the outcome can also include community service, or even a prison sentence of up to five years.
Crimestoppers’ Chief Executive, Mark Hallas, said: “It’s no exaggeration to say that this is a ground-breaking agreement that we have forged with the energy industry to ensure that crimes such as meter tampering are clamped down on.
“This isn’t just about supporting the industry, though, it’s about our duty to the communities we work with. Explosions and fires as a result of energy theft can be devastating, which is why we are running this service on behalf of the industry, to ensure our streets are safe.”
Ofgem’s Chief Executive Dermot Nolan comments: “Energy theft costs the UK hundreds of millions of pounds each year and puts people’s lives at risk. This is why we’re working with the energy industry to clamp down on this crime. The hotline will be an important tool to help end this offense. We are urging the public to use it, and pull the plug on energy theft once and for all.”
Peter Lowe, WPD’s Security Co-ordinator, is supporting this campaign.
He said: “I’m keen to back this service being launched by Crimestoppers because energy theft can have serious consequences. People involved in such criminal activities are putting at risk the lives of our engineers who have to repair and replace infrastructure that may have been left in an unsafe condition. Similarly, other innocent people could become victims.
It’s also incredibly inconvenient for our customers – especially those who rely on electricity for things like dialysis machines – for often when thefts occur power supplies are disrupted. We hope that the new service will help to prevent this from happening.”
To report an incident of energy crime call the Energy Safe reporting service on 0800 023 2777 or fill out an anonymous, non-traceable form at stayenergysafe.co.uk.
Tagged under
- About Us