ELECTRICITY company Northern Powergrid has teamed up with Crimestoppers to protect its network from metal thieves.

The organisations have renewed their partnership, which started in 2011, to raise awareness of the safety risks and public disruption caused by theft of materials including cables and metal.

Nick Gill, Northern Powergrid’s field operations director, said: “We have formed a close working relationship with Crimestoppers and are pleased to be renewing our partnership. Metal thieves do not care about the lives of the innocent people they put at risk or the disruption they cause when they interfere with power supplies.

“Together with Crimestoppers, we urge the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity they see around the electricity network.”

Rodger Holden, from Crimestoppers, said: “It is with great pleasure that we announce the continued partnership between Crimestoppers and Northern Powergrid.

"Crimes that affect them also affect the public including metal theft which causes power cuts affecting thousands of communities each year. Metal theft causes significant disruption for many as well as putting those involved at considerable physical risk.”