DeterTech and insurer Gallagher join forces on combating metal theft

Drawing on DeterTech’s crime intelligence data and Gallagher’s insurance expertise, the document examines the growing issue of metal theft across the UK’s critical infrastructure domain and outlines practical steps organisations can take to reduce risk and strengthen resilience.

The report highlights a significant increase in criminal activity targeting sites containing copper cable and other valuable metals. Most notably, it reveals a 59% year-on-year increase in reported offences against solar, onshore wind and battery storage facilities.

Further, the report notes that metal theft continues to exert a substantial economic impact, costing the UK an estimated £480 million every year, while sustained high copper prices are creating further incentives for organised criminal groups to act.

Increased exposure

“Critical infrastructure is expanding rapidly across the UK, but with that growth comes increased exposure to criminal activity,” asserted Gary Higgins, director of security and risk at DeterTech. “Metal theft is no longer an isolated issue. It has become a major operational, financial and security risk for businesses across the construction, energy, utilities, transport and telecommunications sectors.”

The report includes an analysis of metal theft ‘hotspots’ and sets out a series of recommendations designed to help businesses strengthen their defences. These include commissioning professional security risk assessments, improving perimeter security, auditing video monitoring systems, deploying forensic marking technologies and ensuring that incidents are reported quickly in order to support intelligence gathering and disruption efforts.

A central theme of the document is the connection between effective security measures and access to insurance.

Shared mission 

Mark Kubis-Law, corporate accounts director at DeterTech, explained: “DeterTech and Gallagher have a shared mission to bring greater peace of mind to people and communities every day, so it made sense to join forces on this awareness campaign. As the UK expands its infrastructure at an unprecedented pace, criminals are becoming more sophisticated, more organised and more relentless. Once targeted, sites face a very high likelihood of repeat victimisation. Our mission is to help operators break that cycle, protect their infrastructure and give them the confidence to build for the future.”

Under the partnership, site owners who commission a DeterTech security risk assessment and implement its recommendations – alongside meeting all other standard underwriting criteria – can expect these measures to be considered by insurers when assessing risk and setting premiums for insurance arranged through Gallagher.

Where sites subsequently experience no further incidents or claims, Gallagher will proactively engage with insurers to demonstrate the strength of the risk profile and seek improved terms, such as low‑claims rebates where applicable.

Primarily, the insight paper is aimed at organisations involved in the construction and operation of solar farms, battery storage sites and onshore wind assets, as well as businesses responsible for wider critical infrastructure projects across the UK.

*Further information is available online at https://detertech.com/detertech-gallagher-renewables-protection/