Energy theft

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FIN/25/003799/B

Version Date: 30/10/2025

The Performance Analysis Department has provided the following information: 

Information Source:

Crime information system – Niche

Data Processing – the following crimes were extracted:

• Abstract / use without authority electricity (recordable)
• Alter electricity meter reading
• Dishonest Use Of Electricity
• Prevent electricity meter from registering supply

This was followed by keyword search in the occurrence summary of “power”, “energy” and “electric” for crimes with Theft, Burglary or Robbery as a Main Crime Group. This returned many irrelevant occurrences (Electric bike, power tools etc) so I have reviewed, based on the occurrence summary, and extracted the occurrences that relate to theft of electricity.

1. How many domestic energy theft incidents were reported to your force in 2022, 2023, and 2024? Please provide separate figures for each individual year. What was the estimated total monetary value of these thefts in each year separately?
   
   

2. How many domestic energy theft cases resulted in arrests in 2022, in 2023, and in 2024? Please provide the number for each year individually.
   None, there were no arrests.
   
   
3. How many domestic energy theft cases resulted in prosecutions in 2022, in 2023, and in 2024? Please provide the number for each year individually.
   No information held. The police handle arrests and charges, it is the job of His Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service to prosecute. Please submit a new request to the Courts for prosecutions. HM Courts & Tribunals Service - GOV.UK
   
   
4. What was the estimated total amount of stolen energy (in kWh) across all domestic theft cases where this data was recorded? Please provide separate totals for 2022, for 2023, and for 2024.
   No information held, this field is not compulsory and has either been left blank or has been recorded as ‘Unknown’.
   
   

Please note: For all questions, I require data separated by individual calendar year (2022, 2023, 2024), not combined or aggregated totals.