Greater Manchester sees most investigations into the theft of electricity in England and Wales

Between 2017 and the end of June 2019, 710 cases of electricity theft were recorded by the local police force

Greater Manchester Police handled 17 per cent of all reported investigations into the theft of electricity since 2017, the most of any police force in England and Wales.

Between 2017 and the end of June 2019, 710 cases of electricity theft were recorded by the local police force.

According to the data, police investigations into the theft of electricity are projected to be 13 per cent higher this year than in 2018.

Those tampering with energy meters risk electrocution, severe burns and increase the risk of fire in a property as exposed wires and connections can easily become superheated.

In almost a quarter (23 per cent) of cases, police suspected electricity was being stolen for the cultivation or manufacture of illegal drugs.

The scale of illegal drug cultivation in the UK is reinforced by analysis that shows in the financial year 2017/18 police seized an average of 964 cannabis plants every single day, with a total of 352,000 plants confiscated.

Cannabis seizures represented nearly two thirds (72 per cent) of all drug seizures in England and Wales last year, with a total of 98,000 seizures across all police forces.

People can receive a significant prison term for electricity theft alone, with a starting point of 12 weeks’ custody for serious offenders.  For those found guilty of running a cannabis operation, capable of producing industrial quantities for commercial use, a criminal can expect to be jailed for between 4 and 8 years.

Greater Manchester Police has been contacted for comment.