COVERT crime-busting kit is being utilised by Network Rail to track down metal thieves who caused major delays to passengers and freight on the West Coast main line.
The organisation revealed it has been deploying ‘trespass beads’ which provide police with the ability to ‘irrefutably’ link offenders to crime scenes.
Trespass beads are tiny pellets designed to break upon impact and are made up of SelectaDNA, a unique UV based DNA solution which is a proven and credible way to place a criminal at a crime scene without their knowledge.
A special solution released by the beads can be detected by trained sniffer dogs as well as seen under special police torches – so stolen metal can be found and those who illegally sell items onward can be caught, Network Rail added.
The innovation is one of many deterrents deployed by the organisation alongside the likes of drone and covert cameras, with theft not only impacting train services but puts the lives of criminals themselves at risk.
In the financial year 2023/2024, there were 101 incidents across the national rail network, that caused trains to be delayed by 55,764 minutes at an estimated cost to the tax payer of £4 million.
Jennifer Hartnett, Network Rail’s route crime and security manager for west coast south, said, “Cable theft is a timely and expensive problem for the railway and it causes huge disruption to our passengers and freight services.
“To prevent it, we’re working closely with our partners at the British Transport Police and using innovative tactics like our trespass beads to help bring thieves to justice. We urge anyone who sees something suspicious on or near the railway to contact the British Transport Police.”
