The head of a group who have been set up to investigate and prevent metal works thefts in Wales have claimed that the problem is so bad that it threatens social cohesion, with the thefts costing almost £6m a year in Wales as well as threatening the electrical supplies of a number of regions in the city.

Now councils and utility firms are planning a meeting with government officials to tackle the metal press work thefts.

Speaking to the BBC, Super intendant Gamlin said the thefts could harm the public, stating “Members of the public are being put at risk daily by metal thieves; through unprotected manholes, right up to exposed power cables, damaged railway signalling equipment, loss of telephone coverage and the threat of power outages. 

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s threatening to fracture social cohesion. Thieves stole so much copper wiring.. we came dangerously close to losing electrical supplies to two major urban conurbations.

“On one occasion thieves stole so much copper wiring from the power network in Gwent that we came dangerously close to losing electrical supplies to two major urban conurbations in the county.”