Police and companies team up to tackle EV charging cable theft
October 14th, 2024
Derbyshire Police, national charging network Be.EV, and EV specialist Formula Space have joined forces to crack down on electric vehicle charging cable theft in Chesterfield. The new Charging Hub Intelligent Protection (CHIP) initiative aims to deter criminals and safeguard charging sites with enhanced security measures.
The 85 Saltergate Charging Hub is the first to benefit from the initiative, which includes 24/7 mobile CCTV, a tannoy warning system, and SelectaDNA-protected cables. These measures allow stolen cables to be traced back to criminals, with local police automatically alerted to any criminal activity.
Adrian Fielden-Gray, COO of Be.EV, described cable theft as an “absolute nightmare” for drivers, urging the industry to adopt similar security across the UK. PCSO Emma Shimwell of Derbyshire Police stressed the importance of collaboration between charge point operators and law enforcement to deter theft and vandalism.
The success of this initiative could lead to wider adoption across the UK’s EV charging network.