New research has revealed more than 200 cases of theft and vandalism targeting electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the UK, prompting industry calls for urgent action to safeguard the nation’s expanding charging network. The findings, based on a Freedom of Information (FOI) request conducted by charge point operator Allego, collected data from police forces nationwide.
Allego cautioned that the reported incidents likely represent only a fraction of the total, noting that 40% of surveyed police forces either could not provide data or stated they did not maintain relevant records. As the UK continues its rapid rollout of EV infrastructure, experts warn that opportunities for criminal activity are increasing, highlighting the need for preventative measures.
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Paz Sharma, Managing Director of Allego UK, stressed the urgency of recognising EV charge points as critical infrastructure and called for harsher penalties for offenders. He also advocated for the creation of a cross-sector EV taskforce involving government, law enforcement, ChargeUK, and parliamentary groups to strengthen protections. Sharma said, “While we are far from crisis mode, this research is a warning sign that action needs to be taken to bring EV criminals to book. It’s not about the £25 scrap metal value or even the cost of replacing damaged chargers… it’s about giving the nation the best chance of securing its clean transport future.”
He added that unreported incidents may be significant, estimating that as many as one in twenty charging sites could be affected. To better monitor and respond to crime, Allego has proposed a virtual hotline to allow the industry and authorities to track incidents and criminal activity targeting EV chargers across jurisdictions.
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The FOI study identified Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire as the worst affected regions, with over 100 incidents of vandalism reported since 2022. Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK, highlighted the operational impact, saying, “Cable theft has swiftly become one of the most pressing issues facing the EV charging sector, creating a costly distraction to the nationwide roll out which is underway and ultimately negatively impacting drivers… Ultimately, a collaborative response between the industry, police and the Home Office is required to tackle this growing problem.”
As the UK aims for 300,000 public charge points by 2030, industry leaders are urging swift action to prevent crime from undermining the transition to clean transport.
Source: Greenfleet