The government's vision of a fume-free future dominated by electric vehicles is facing a significant and growing threat from a distinctly old-fashioned crime wave. Criminal gangs are systematically stripping copper cables from public charging stations at an alarming rate, with incidents now occurring at an average of two sites every single day. This escalating epidemic of theft and vandalism is not only inflicting substantial financial damage but also risks derailing the United Kingdom's crucial transition to electric transport and its legally binding 2050 Net Zero targets.
Surge in Thefts and Vandalism Cripples Charging Network
Exclusive data reveals a stark picture of the crisis gripping the nation's electric vehicle infrastructure. A Freedom of Information request submitted to police forces uncovered nearly 400 separate incidents of theft and vandalism at EV charging points since 2023, with more than 170 recorded in this year alone. Shockingly, only a quarter of police forces responded to the request, indicating the true scale of the problem is likely to be far more severe. An industry survey further suggests that such criminal activity has surged by a staggering 80 percent since last year, with one police force reporting an eight-fold increase in incidents specifically targeting charging stations.
From Opportunistic Crime to Organised Criminal Enterprise
What began as sporadic, opportunistic thefts has rapidly evolved into the preserve of sophisticated organised criminal gangs. Experts point to the soaring price of copper on global markets as a primary driver. The stolen cables, with a scrap value of a mere £15 to £25, cost a minimum of £1,000 to replace at public charge points, creating a lucrative and low-risk criminal enterprise. These gangs are adept at selling the illicit copper to illegal scrap dealers or through online marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace and eBay.
Andy Rogerson, who runs the popular Electric Vehicle Man YouTube channel, commented on the trend, stating, "People will go after anything they can make money from. There are more chargers than ever before, and the number of thefts are increasing in tandem. We now have to adapt to the thieves in the same way they have adapted to these new opportunities." This criminal shift is notable, coming after a significant decline in thefts of catalytic converters from petrol and diesel vehicles, suggesting gangs have simply redirected their focus towards the new copper-rich targets presented by the expanding EV network.
Multi-Million Pound Cost and Erosion of Public Confidence
The financial impact on charging network operators is severe and escalating. Privately funded firm InstaVolt estimates the crime has cost it close to £2 million when accounting for replacements, security upgrades, and diverted engineering resources. The company reported that since November 2023, more than 900 charging cables have been cut from its sites alone, with thefts nearly doubling year-on-year. Other operators, including Evyve and Osprey, report hundreds of incidents affecting significant portions of their networks.
Beyond the direct financial loss, the damage to public confidence is perhaps even more detrimental to the government's green agenda. When chargers are rendered "useless" by crime, as happened to four council-installed units in Mackworth, Derby, it frustrates drivers and erodes trust in the reliability of the national charging network. Industry leaders fear this loss of confidence could significantly slow the public's transition to electric vehicles.
Calls for Government Action and Infrastructure Protection
Businesses across the sector are now issuing urgent calls for government intervention. They are demanding that EV charging sites be formally classified as critical national infrastructure. Such a designation would allow police forces to dedicate greater resources to their protection and could lead to stricter sentencing for offenders under existing legislation like the Public Order Act 2023, which carries penalties of up to 12 months' imprisonment for interfering with key infrastructure.
Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt, emphasised the gravity of the situation: "This is not a low-level crime. It is a direct attack on the UK’s national infrastructure. The cost is approaching £2 million, but the damage to public confidence in electric vehicles is even greater. Without serious intervention, cable theft threatens to derail the UK’s 2030 net zero targets." The company is urging authorities to focus policing efforts in identified hotspots, including the West Midlands, South Yorkshire, the North East, Thames Valley, and Hampshire.
Political and Policy Context Amid a Slowing Rollout
This crime wave strikes at a pivotal moment for the UK's electric vehicle strategy. The rollout of new public chargers has slowed for the first time, with installations dropping 30 percent by the end of November compared to the previous year. This slowdown presents a blow to the government's ambition to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Furthermore, political pressure is mounting, with the Conservative Party pledging to scrap the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate and slash subsidies if it wins power, and Labour facing calls to delay its own 2030 ban following the European Union's decision to soften its 2035 phase-out plan.
Greg Smith, the Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary for Net Zero and Transport, highlighted the cable theft issue as an "added misery" for drivers already concerned about charging infrastructure and range anxiety. He stated, "We’re trying to drive something through which people were probably not fully on board with but felt pressured to comply with."
Industry Response and Security Measures
Faced with this relentless criminal activity, charging network operators are investing heavily in countermeasures. These include the rollout of protective metal sheathing for cables, GPS tracking technology to trace stolen equipment, enhanced CCTV monitoring, and increased security patrols. However, these are costly defensive actions. Vicky Read, Chief Executive of industry body ChargeUK, expressed the sector's frustration: "The EV charging industry is putting huge effort and investment into giving drivers certainty... So, it is infuriating when that is not the case because a criminal has cut the cable — for drivers and for the charge point operators who are spending thousands on this problem which could be better spent building more charge points."
As the UK continues its expansion of the EV network, supported by hundreds of millions in public grants, the industry warns that the cable theft problem will only grow if left unchecked. With around 86,000 public chargers currently in operation and 1.7 million electric vehicles on the roads, protecting this vital infrastructure is no longer just a business concern but a fundamental requirement for achieving the nation's clean transport and climate goals.
