Metal theft could disrupt Olympic travel, say MPs

The government has been told to back a plan that supporters say could help tackle metal theft before the start of the Olympics.

Thefts from railways have led to some train services being cancelled in recent months.

MPs say train stoppages would be embarrassing when the world's attention is focused on the UK for the Games.

The government says it agrees with the aims of the proposal, and that current laws are out-dated.

The Labour MP Graham Jones has proposed a 'Metal Theft (Prevention) law that could get its second reading in the Commons today.

"I'm worried that failure to legislate immediately will mean changes aren't effected until well into 2013," said Mr Jones.

"The Olympics this year makes this all the more urgent."

Network Rail's Dyan Crowther says metal theft has cost her organisation £16 million in the last financial year, and caused 6000 hours of delays.

"We have six to eight incidents a day on our network," she said.

"We've been saying for a long time that we need some help."

Twenty-six-year-old Christian Elliott, who runs a scrap merchants in Aylesford in Kent, says his industry has been given a bad name lately.

He also wants to help fix its reputation: "We've got face recognition cameras constantly recording on site," he said.

"We always ask for both ID and for people's addresses.

"If they match up you know they're not telling lies."

There has been no specific response from the government about Olympic disruption worries.

But ministers say they're working with police and others to set up a dedicated task force to tackle metal theft.

One proposal is an end to cash payments to people selling scrap.

Christian Elliott says that could upset many of his customers: "They sell their electrical cable, or their plumbing tubing, and it buys them a couple of drinks at the end of the day.

"It might cause a problem. But what can they do?"