As the UK edges closer to its revised 2030 deadline for the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles, electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure is facing a new and growing threat — not from tariffs, policy delays or planning red tape, but from brazen criminals cutting cables and quietly undermining driver confidence along the way.
Despite the UK’s investment of more than £6 billion into its EV charging infrastructure, the rising issue of cable theft has caused an estimated £10 million in damage to the economy.
“This goes beyond simple theft — it’s causing serious disruption. The financial gain for perpetrators is minimal, and we are fully committed to pursuing prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.” Says Seamus O’Dwyer, Operations Performance Director at PoGo Charge. “Our team works tirelessly to revitalise underused spaces and deliver EV charging to communities across the UK. To see the impact to the customers and communities being undone through this thoughtless act is intolerable.”
Across the country, essential public charging networks are being targeted, with many drivers arriving to find vandalised chargers, cut cables and no explanation. The EV industry is calling for action, and so are we.
Why This Should Be Treated as Critical Infrastructure
We have joined voices across the EV industry to call for public EV charging infrastructure to be legally defined as ‘critical infrastructure’ — a classification that would bring tougher penalties for those who vandalise or steal from sites essential to national transport and sustainability goals.
“Right now, criminals show no fear of prosecution,” adds Seamus. “Yet this crime directly affects EV uptake, business productivity, emergency travel and the UK’s green ambitions.”
Other national infrastructure – such as the UK rail network – is already designated as critical, with criminal offences relating to theft and vandalism carrying significantly harsher penalties. In one high-profile case, a gang responsible for stealing copper cable from railway and communications networks received a combined 17-year prison sentence. Now EV infrastructure must begin to receive the same level of protection and legal recognition.
Criminals who intentionally damage or dismantle EV infrastructure are not just targeting hardware — they’re undermining the UK’s climate goals, community mobility and public trust in electric transport. The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 already aims to tackle this issue by requiring scrap metal dealers to be licensed and by banning cash transactions. But more must be done to ensure this legislation is enforced, infrastructure safeguarded, with the perpetrators held to account with fitting consequences.
What is PoGo Doing About the Cut Cable Challenge?
Despite these challenges, we remain committed to protecting both our infrastructure and building the trust of our customers.
Collaboration across the industry is more important than ever. The open exchange of information and transparency demonstrated by our peers is vital as we collectively address this growing challenge. At PoGo, we’re working closely with other charge point operators, ChargeUK, law enforcement, and key stakeholders to take proactive steps in protecting infrastructure through deployment of smart deterrents and additional security measures, supporting the UK’s transition to electric.
We’re also continuing our work with ChargeSafe, who independently assess the safety, security and accessibility of public EV charging sites across the UK. We’re proud to have our two-time ChargeSafe accreditation and safety remains central to our infrastructure strategy.
What Needs to Happen Next
With the Government reaffirming the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales, the focus must now shift to ensuring the UK’s charging infrastructure is fit for purpose and protected. If we truly want to support the EV transition, securing the infrastructure is essential.
The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 highlight a core objective: ensuring consumers can trust that public charge points will be in good working order. However, without meaningful action, criminal interference will continue to undermine networks, impact uptime, limit availability and erode driver confidence.
We need urgent government action, to include:
- Recognition of EV sites as critical infrastructure
- Increased penalties for vandalism and theft
- Improve support for site monitoring and rapid repair
We are committed to building a cleaner, greener, electrified future — but we can’t do it alone. It’s time to power up protection for public charging, fortify sites through innovation and work collaboratively across the industry to combat this emerging issue.
What should I do if I discover a public EV charger with a cut cable?
If you come across a charger with a visibly cut or damaged cable, please do not attempt to use it. Instead, report it immediately to the relevant charge point operator.
For PoGo Charge sites, you can contact our 24/7 Customer Support Team by calling the number displayed on the charger, or by emailing [email protected] with the site name, charger ID, and a photo if possible. This allows us to take swift action to make the charger safe, arrange for repairs, and log the incident to support ongoing efforts to combat vandalism.
Every report helps us keep EV infrastructure safe, reliable, and available for the drivers who depend on it.
