The specially trained dogs will be used to track down the thieves who create huge delays for passengers and freight and will be focusing on the West Coast main line between London Euston and Crewe.

The canine team have been put in place by Search Dogs UK and will help to crack down on the criminals who steal essential cables and material from the railway and those who illegally sell on those items.

A nationwide operation is now underway which sees railway property marked with SelectaDNA which is a permanent synthetic solution that is only visible under special police torches and allows metals to be found and identified after going missing. The spray also has a unique scent that the sniffer dogs can detect easily leading police straight to stolen goods being sold illegally at scrap metal dealers.

Andrea Graham, head of crime and security for Network Rail’s North West and Central region, said:

“Metal theft continues to cause huge problems for passengers and freight customers at a very significant cost to our business – which is of course funded by the taxpayer.

“We’re always looking at new ways to crack down on criminals and now we have man’s best friend on the case too. Our message to thieves who think they can steal from us is clear – we will find you and bring you to justice because you’re not only putting your own life at risk by trespassing on the tracks but also the lives of our passengers and staff.”

Network Rail recently revealed figures that show since 2017 27 incidents of serious metal theft have occurred on the West Coast main line between Crewe, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Watford and London Euston. This illicit activity saw serious damage to the West Coast main line signalling system near Crewe during the first lockdown of spring 2020. Incidents like this have happened throughout Network Rail’s West Coast South route causing trains to be delayed for 12,000 minutes or 8 days with an estimated cost to the taxpayer of £1.5m.

Spontaneous visits to scrap dealer sites together with the telecoms industry have been underway during a week of action to remind traders not to handle stolen metal and their obligations under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. Scrap dealers must by law ensure that traded metal is sourced legally and that sellers’ details are recorded and stored as part of a sale. Criminal gangs are increasingly targeting metal used in infrastructure and making the most of high metal prices.

Superintendent Mark Cleland, British Transport Police national lead for metal crime, said:

“We’re working with partners across the entire country and throughout the metals recycling industry to target those who we suspect of flouting the law or operating outside of their licence.

“By taking a multi-agency approach, we are maximising our ability to identify those who are attacking our national infrastructure, making it harder for them to sell stolen metal and gain from their activities. We’re warning would-be offenders that we will take action against them and anyone involved in the theft and trade of metal from the railway will be brought to justice.”

Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity on or around the railway should report it to British Transport Police by calling 0800 40 50 40 or texting 61016.