Monday 22 April 2013

Stephen Metcalfe MP welcomes two-thirds fall in metal theft


Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has today welcomed statistics showing a 67% drop in cable theft over the last year thanks to a set of Government measures.

The figures from Network Rail also show that there has also been a 54 per cent reduction in disruption to passenger journeys, which means just over 3,000 fewer hours of delays to hard-working people this year compared to the previous year.

Welcoming the news, local Conservative MP Stephen Metcalfe said: “Having raised this issue on the floor of the House previously, it is great news that the rate of metal theft is falling steeply. The disruption this menace causes to commuters across South Basildon and East Thurrock is unacceptable and it is right that the Government is tackling it.”

“The news that train delays caused by metal theft are reducing is especially welcome. Conservatives are on the side of people who want to work hard and get on in life and it is therefore extremely important that we are taking action to crack down on the criminals who make the morning commute a nightmare.”