The rail industry has announced that it will be stepping up a campaign that will see them attempt to capture scrap metal thieves. Network Rail will partner up with a number of counterparts in an effort to urge Brussels to introduce regulations for scrap metal dealers that they hope will curb the thefts.

Urgent actions has been demanded by a lobby group and the group has written to the European Commission demanding action to prevent the theft of metals such as copper, lead and bronze.

In the letter Monika Heiming, executive director of the European Rail Infrastructure Managers, has urged commissioners to “combat this growing menace.”

Scrap metal theft across the country is believed to cost the economy as much as £700 million.