https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/electricity-theft
Electricity theft at record levels in England and Wales - BBC analysis
https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/electricity-theft
Last synced: 4 months ago
JSON representation
Electricity theft at record levels in England and Wales - BBC analysis
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/electricity-theft
- Owner: BBC-Data-Unit
- Created: 2023-10-04T15:35:16.000Z (over 2 years ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2023-10-04T16:52:09.000Z (over 2 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-05-17T12:37:45.707Z (about 1 year ago)
- Size: 236 KB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 3
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# Electricity theft at record level in England and Wales - BBC analysis
In September 2023, the BBC's Shared Data Unit [analysed](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-66847243) crime data from 42 police forces in England and Wales.
We found that reported cases on electricity theft had risen by 75% since 2012.
Experts suggested that cannabis farms, crypto-currency mining and the cost of living crisis could be behind the increase.
The charity Stay Energy Safe said they had seen an increase in calls, but could not say whether this was fully or partially the result of the economic climate.
The Shared Data looked at crime data for 42 police forces between 2012-13 and 2022-23.
## Findings
- 24 police forces saw an increase, two saw no change and 16 saw a decrease
- Reported cases exceeded 3,000 for the first time in 2020-21, and exceeded 3,500 for the first time in 2021-22
## Get the data
We shared figures showing the number of reported electricity theft for 42 police forces over the last ten years with our partner network.
[You can access the data here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1s8a0P8UftT92GcoVVS-bYirONuU4ZZOMHqHdY7g2oWM/edit#gid=0)
We also shared [this story pack](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vH5M6n6HSljmQlS8JOESKqRuh0iKQkEbk7JKMXQ79cM/edit#heading=h.wwh669hx5jv8), containing detailed background and expert comment from the National Police Chiefs' Council and Stay Energy Safe.
## Interviews
- Charlie Pugsley, Assistant Commissioner at the London Fire Brigade
## Partner usage
The story appeared on England BBC News homepages as well as on BBC local radio stations.
The Shared Data Unit also makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the BBC and the News Media Association.
It was used by more than 20 outlets in our wider partner network, including:
- North Devon Gazette: [Police commissioner calls for vigilance over power thefts](https://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/local-news/1312298/police-commissioner-calls-for-vigilance-over-power-theft.html) 2 October 2023
- Rochdale Online: [Reports of electricity theft soar by 50% in a decade](https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/153520/reports-of-electricity-theft-soar-by-50pc-in-a-decade) 29 September 2023
- Northern Echo: [Electricity theft increased in Durham and North Yorkshire](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23821464.electricity-theft-increased-durham-north-yorkshire/) 29 September 2023
- Wrexham Leader: [Electricity thefts double across North Wales since 2012/13](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23821464.electricity-theft-increased-durham-north-yorkshire/) 3 October 2023