Scrap Metal Dealers Act nets first victim!

Oh dear.

The Soi Disant 'Veteran Observer' has apparently been allowed near the railway.

Alas, judging from this picture he has broke it!

Pay attention Brennan-Brown!

Take that lump of p-way out your pocket! The new Scrap Metal Dealers Act renders it almost worthless.

UPDATE: This from the late Sir Norman Hartwell...

Nice flares. 

UPDATE: This from the Soi Disant Veteran Observer himself...

I really am getting jolly tired of this.

I have asked politely, several times, for you to stop referring to me by the childish term 'soi disant' etc...
 
It is neither big, nor clever!

Rather than replying in person to my emails you think it witty to publish them in truncated... (Sadly, owing to pressure of space, we are unable to publish the rest of this email from the Soi Disant Veteran Observer. Ed)

Update: This from an Railway Hack...

I also attending today's visit to Hatfield/Stainforth.

Eye readers may find these images more illuminating...

 

For what it is worth, it scared the living $h!t out of me. 

Metal Theft bill makes it through to Lords!

Some genuine good news for once!

This from the NR, ATOC and RfG...

Rail industry welcomes MP support for vital Scrap Metal Dealers Bill

Network Rail, ATOC and the Rail Freight group are among a group of companies and industries delighted by the successful third reading of MP Richard Ottaway’s Private Members Bill.

The new Scrap Metal Dealers Bill will now go to the House of Lords to help eradicate the effects of metal theft crimes on Britain’s railways.

The theft of metal is a growing problem in the UK affecting many industry sectors, not just the railway. The current cost to the UK economy is estimated at hundreds of millions of pounds a year and the crime is directly fuelled by the increase in the price of metals, particularly copper and lead.

MPs with concerns on the bill reached a compromise with its supporters to review the bill in three years time, with a sunset clause for five years. This gives time to evaluate the bill in action and revise it if necessary. 

Neil Henry, head of operations and performance at Network Rail, said: “These crimes continue to cause significant disruption and cost to rail passengers and essential freight services. Today is a significant and important step towards removing the distress and inconvenience caused to millions of people by metal thieves."

“We are delighted that the bill has passed its third reading and would like to thank Richard Ottaway MP and all the supporters of the bill. We would also like to acknowledge and welcome the compromise reached with Philip Davies MP over his concerns. We believe we can demonstrate that the bill works in the coming years. Meanwhile, we will continue to work with British Transport Police and invest in methods to better protect the rail network."

Maggie Simpson, executive director at the Rail Freight Group, added: “Metal theft continues to be a problem for rail freight customers, and we are very pleased that these new powers will enable more to be done to reduce the disruption and cost to business from this crime.”

Eye applauds all those who helped to move the bill to the next stage and thanks Philip Davies MP for his pragmatic approach to this proposed legislation.

Philip Davies MP speaks on Metal Theft

Further to yesterday's post about  the risk to Richard Ottoway's Metal Theft bill... 

A number of Eye readers have been in contact with Philip Davies MP to request his support for today's Third Reading.

Here is the MP's apparently standard reply on the subject:

Thank you for your email.

This Bill is badly worded, vague and not fit for purpose and it does the House of Commons no credit simply to pass bad legislation on the nod with no scrutiny.

I have tabled an amendment which would allow the Bill to progress tomorrow and it would expire in a year to give the Government time to bring forward a more considered Bill with proper scrutiny.  If the Bill does not progress tomorrow it will be due to Government intransigence and nothing to do with me.

Best wishes
Philip Davies MP

Oh dear.

Of course if the railway were a real commercial enterprise we could decline to serve Mr Davies for being quite so unhelpful.

Just for a year you understand, to allow him to bring forward a more considered response...

Two MPs threaten to derail Metal Theft bill

This from the Local Government Association...

On the eve of Remembrance Sunday, local authorities are pressing for urgent action to be taken to tackle a crime which has seen memorials desecrated, caused transport chaos and costs the country hundreds of millions of pounds every year.

The Local Government Association, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, is warning that a long overdue overhaul of scrap metal legislation will fail to materialise if the report stage of Richard Ottaway MP's Private Members Bill ends in deadlock on Friday.

Cllr Mehboob Khan, Chairman of the LGA's Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:

"MPs owe it to their constituencies to do everything in their power to turn the tide on this mindless crime which is spiralling out of control.

"Scrap metal thefts have caused transport chaos, closed down churches and schools, and caused heartache for families who have seen memorials to loved ones plundered for scrap.

"To steal at all puts public safety at risk but to take cherished memorial plaques is a heartless and offensive crime

"The legislation for regulating the scrap metal industry has long ceased to be fit for purpose and we can't afford for Parliament to stall any longer on bringing it up to date.

"It will be a devastating blow to the millions of people who have been inconvenienced, injured or distressed by the metal theft epidemic if this opportunity to make a stand against metal thieves and rogue scrapyards is squandered."

According to the Daily Telegraph, Ottoway's bill is likely to be derailed by Christopher Chope, a former minister and Philip Davies MP for Shipley who have tabled more than 100 amendments.

In a tweet earlier today @PhilipDaviesMP said: I have met with people in the scrap metal business and am doing so again tomorrow. Feel free to email me with any points

Philip Davies email is: philip.davies.mp@parliament.uk and Christopher Chope MP can be contacted at chopec@parliament.uk

As ever, Eye readers are encouraged to vote both early and often, but politely putting the case for the Ottoway bill!

UPDATE: For those interested...

The Scrap Metal Dealers Bill: Committee Stage Report can be found here
 

One bill for metal theft we can all support

This from ATOC...

ATOC welcomes new metal theft bill

In response to the announcement that Richard Ottaway MP will introduce a new bill to the House of Commons on Wednesday to crack down on the trade in stolen metal, Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies said:

“Cable theft disrupts hundreds of thousands of passengers every year and costs the taxpayer millions, so it is very good news that Richard Ottaway is giving Parliament the opportunity to crack down on the trade in stolen metal. Train companies have been working tirelessly with the rest of the industry to tackle the problem, and this is an important step in helping us to succeed.

“The proposed powers will send a clear signal to criminals and rogue traders that dealing in stolen metal could lead to unlimited fines, removal of operating licences and even long terms in prison. Giving police and local councils the power to search and investigate scrap yards suspected of dealing in stolen metal, and if necessary close them down, will help stop metal theft in its tracks.”

ENDS

Excellent and about time too!

Railway rob-dogs gaoled

This from the Runcorn & Widnes World...

A GANG of metal thieves who posed as railway workers to steal redundant rail and fencing, have been jailed for a total of more than 21 years.

As PJ Woodhouse was fond of saying: 'without the option'.

And Quite. Right. Too!

Metal Theft Prevention - petition

On a serious note...

A Private Members Bill is being put before Parliament next Monday by Graham Jones MP, which aims to reform the outdated Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964

There is a petition on the Number 10 website in support of this which hopefully Eye readers may wish to sign.

The petition can be found here.

Remember vote early, vote often!

Cable theft - Mad Men rise to the Challenge

Full marks to the genii at Bowtie, Bow-tie and Glasses who thought this one up!


Spotted by @BCCletts adjacent to the railway at Warrington Bank Quay.

Still, suppose it beats promoting coughing-nails to nippers.

NR goes secret squirrel on cable theives

With cable theft causing over 6,000 hours worth of delay to passengers last year NR is upping its game.

The Beeb today has a report showing a range of secret squirrel cameras being used by the infrastructure controller and the BTP to catch the rob-dogs in action.


Of course the timing of today's launch of the anti-cable theft campaign is interesting.

Eye wonders if NR has been taking guidance from the Torygraph on secret recordings?

UPDATE: Another satisfied Eye reader writes...

Sir,

It ill behoves you to criticise others for their slips of the pen when your ignorance of the rule 'I' before 'E' except after 'C' has been displayed on your apology for a blog throughout today.

That no one has seen fit to correct this solipsism confirms my views than no one reads you and those that do reflect the poor quality of education which in my experience is the hallmark of the railway industry and its so called trade publications.

R Slicker

Darwin Award - A big hand for the man!

This from the BBC...

A man suffered burns to his hands in an apparent attempt to steal cable from a railway line in Nuneaton.

Bwahahahahaha!

NR launches WCML ad campaign

The secret's out!

NR has launched a £2.4m advertising campaign called the ‘New West Coast main line’.

The six-week campaign consists of television and cinema advertisements along with outdoor poster and regional media advertising.

A quick look at the video may explain Virgin's recent difficulties.

It appears that some rogue has nicked the overhead wires.

UPDATE: Captain Deltic muses.

I assumed that shot was meant to show the WCML before the great men of old-BR electrified the route in 1966 and 1974.

But blowing up the image the train looks like a Voyager and I don't think they were running before electrification.

UPDATE: This just in from a chap called Pendolino Warrior...

That's a Pendo' surely. So is it dragged wrongline or photopic'd.

The clue is by the bridge, obviously NR's ad agency couldn't be bothered to air-brush out all of the catenary and stanchions...

Help stop cable theft

This from Network Rail...

Network Rail is offering a reward of up to £1,000 for information leading to the conviction of cable thieves and anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.