Calls for taskforce to tackle EV chargepoint cable thefts

Allego UK research shows vandalism of charging points is a growing issue

As the electric vehicle charging network expands, so too does the opportunity for criminal activity.?Vandalism of EV charging facilities is a growing issue in the UK.

Damage caused by crime can leave chargers out of service, frustrating drivers and eroding confidence in the network. 

Freedom of Information (FOI) research by chargepoint operator Allego UK collected data from police forces nationwide and revealed over 200 cases of theft and vandalism against EV chargers across the UK. 

Allego also cautioned that these figures are likely just the tip of the iceberg, with many incidents going unreported and 40% of surveyed police forces either unable to provide data or saying they do not hold relevant records.

Of the areas covered by the FOI study, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire were the worst affected, with more than 100 reported cases of vandalism between them since 2022.

Paz Sharma, managing director of Allego UK is calling for EV chargers to be recognised as critical infrastructure and for harsher penalties for those caught targeting these sites.

Sharma is also calling for the creation of an ‘EV taskforce’ that brings together government, industry, law enforcement, industry body ChargeUK and political groups such as the Electric Vehicle All Party Parliamentary Group.

Sharma has written to both the Home Office and the National Police Chief’s Council calling for the creation of a virtual hotline for reporting EV crime. This would give authorities a national picture of incidents and be used to help them track criminal gangs targeting chargers across jurisdictions. 

He said: “While we are far from crisis mode, this research is a warning sign that action needs to be taken to bring EV criminals to book. It’s not about the £25 scrap metal value or even the cost of replacing damaged chargers which runs into thousands of pounds – it’s about giving the nation the best chance of securing its clean transport future.

“Unfortunately, we believe this to be a much more serious problem than the figures indicate, as our FOI investigation flagged that a number of police forces were not in a position to provide information on such incidents. 

“Based on what we hear from the industry and the prevalence of unreported cases, I wouldn’t be surprised if as many as one in twenty charging sites are being targeted. With the government targeting 300,000 public chargepoints by 2030, we need to nip this trend in the bud.”

Vicky Read, chief executive of ChargeUK said: “Cable theft has swiftly become one of most pressing issues facing the EV charging sector, creating a costly distraction to the nationwide roll out which is underway and ultimately negatively impacting drivers.

"Chargepoint operators are implementing innovative solutions to prevent this crime and we are working with members to share best practice and engage the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Ultimately, a collaborative response between the industry, police and the Home Office is required to tackle this growing problem.”