VIDEO BT and UK Police Explain the Problem of Telecoms Cable Theft

BT has teamed up with the police to release a well-polished video that is intended to help raise awareness and educate younger people about how much damage the theft of their vital copper telecoms cable can do, not just to businesses but also to ordinary people.

The short video, which was produced in association with West Midlands, Warwickshire, West Mercia and Staffordshire police forces, and with electricity supply company Western Power Distribution, explains how “everybody relies on the metal contained in BT’s cables for phone and broadband connections” (well.. not quite everybody). It also re-iterates how metal theft can cost the UK around £770m a year.

Simon Davies, BTOpenreachs General Manager, said:

“Imagine not being able to connect to Facebook or YouTube. Imagine your Xbox not connecting up to your friends for your games. Imagine not being able to go to the corner shop and use your card because the ATM system has gone down.

In fact, even mobile phone signals get carried at some point on BT’s cables. And, not only that, it’s the wider effect on your communities, on the hospitals, on the businesses, on the places where your friends work – all not being able to operate because the cables have been stolen.

Metal theft affects us all – the threat to life, failed communications and rising monthly bills is just a small part of this mindless crime. It’s time that we worked together to prevent the metal in our country’s infrastructure being torn apart.”

Now on to the video..