Rising number of electricity thefts in Nottinghamshire

Electricity theft – which can be carried out by tampering with a line or bypassing a meter – has the potential to cause serious injury and is punishable by up to five years’ jail.

Though already an increasing problem, the National Energy Action campaign group said it is ‘horrifying’ others could be turning to the illegal practice to keep their lights on amid a growing fuel crisis.

Home Office figures show Nottinghamshire Police received 49 reports of the ‘dishonest use of electricity’ in the year to March, up from 39 in 2020-21.

Across England and Wales, 3,600 such offences were recorded in 2021-22, up 13 per cent on the year before and the most since comparable records began in 2012-13.

About 1,100 of these occurred between January and March – almost double the number recorded over the same period in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Stay Energy Safe, operated by Crimestoppers, says tampering with a meter can lead to wires overheating, the damage of property and potentially loss of life.

It also warns the crime costs energy companies a minimum of £440 million each year, with these costs then passed on to customers.

An Ofgem spokesman said ‘under no circumstances should consumers attempt to connect electricity meters themselves’.

However, the NEA said the cost-of-living crisis is forcing people into ‘increasingly desperate situations’ such as avoiding energy use – including using candles instead of lights – or possibly even resorting to electricity theft.

Peter Smith, NEA director of policy and advocacy, said: “This is not only illegal, but dangerous and it’s horrifying if the crisis is forcing households to try this to keep the lights on – and this is happening now, before winter and the cold weather hits.”

Across all police forces, 57 per cent of dishonest use of electricity cases were closed last year with no suspect identified.

In Nottinghamshire, 44 investigations were concluded in 2021-22, with 17 resulting in no suspect being identified, 18 abandoned due to evidential difficulties and three with a charge or summons.

The Government said it is providing £37 billion to help households with the cost of living.