"Stealing" Electricity
 

Interesting story on the BBC News website-

A man was arrested for charging his phone on a train. Why? - BBC Newsbeat

Set me thinking. How many of us have been faced with a situation where our phone needs charging, and we see a socket in a bar/café/reataurant where we can easily plug in and recharge.

What is the protocol? Do we just do it, or do we go looking for someone to ask permission?

In this case, it seems the "community support officer" was suffering from a slight training deficiency. The correct way to deal with the situation was probably to advise the passenger that the sockets were not there for public use, and not to do it again.

The actual response of shouting down the platform to Transport Pólice that they needed to arrest this man for stealing electricity was not, in retrospect, the right thing to do, and perhaps called into question the wisdom of appointing the said "community support officer" in the first place.
The arrest of the "suspect", his de-arrrest and subsequent re-arrest on public order offences merely adds to the complete hilarity of the situation.

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

I am not a big on mobile phones, but If I was out and about I would go into the vodafone shop and they would charge my phone for me.
Other than that i would ask if I could charge my phone.
Many of the newer trains have places where travellers can charge their phones.
this was definitely a very heavy handed response.

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

I think you find that there is no such offence as stealing electricity.
I'm not sure what the offence actually is when you use electricity without paying but it's not stealing.

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

Theft?
Deceptively obtaining something that doesn't belong to oneself.

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

Electricity doesn't come under the definition of property and cannot therefore be stole.

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The offence is actually mentioned in the BBC link above.

The offence of*abstracting of electricity*is part of the Theft Act 1968 in England and Wales, and carries a possible prison sentence.

It says: "A person who dishonestly uses without due authority, or dishonestly causes to be wasted or diverted, any electricity shall on conviction on indictment be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years."

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

Thank you Micheal. I was hoping somebody would save me the trouble of having to look up the facts.
It is still not classed as theft.

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

So where does it stand on bulldog clips & a leccy junction box? :D

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No problem Dave, as long as you stand on a rubber mat.

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

Cost to the taxpayer= (Estimated) £500
Cost of 'abstracted' (not stolen) electricity = (Estimated) 1p

Total: BS :D

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I read somewhere that the cost of the electricity to recharge a phone is 0.0001p.
So you are right Jason, this is definitely a waste of public money.
I would discipline the goon who arrested this traveller.

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

This reminds me of a time my mum was going away for a few days & didn't think she could charge her phone in her room at the hotel cos it 'wouldn't be her electric' - bless her :)

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You don't need to steal it in Accrington - just use the free car charger on Broadway. The only problem with this is that it isn't free to the rest of us as we pay for it out of our Council Tax

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

In the days before computers became commonplace, a friend of mine, who worked on the counter at Blackburn Post Office, took in his electric calculator as an aid to adding up bills etc. He plugged it in the power point under the counter and started to use it. The manager, who was a tartar, told him he couldn't use it because he was using Post Office electricity.

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

One of the members of Read Con Club came in on Saturday, got a small lemonade and then plugged his ecigarette into a socket while he had his pop. Once charged he upped and left.
Members regularly charge their phones in the Club but I suppose as we are all share holders it's our electricity.

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The maxim "de minimis non curat lex" (the law does not concern itself with trifles) ought to apply in a case such as this.

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It's still stealing - it's part of the theft act. Your argument suggests I can go into Tesco and take a sweet from the pick & mix without fear of repercussions.

He was arrested for refusing to remove his charger from someone else's power socket. The bulk of the cost to the taxpayer was because he was re-arrested for being belligerent. Personally, I think he got what he deserved.

It's common decency to ask for permission to use someone else's facilities if they aren't provided for the public (the plug socket is probably only there so the cleaners can bring their hoovers around). If I'd have been the conductor, I would have refused because I've seen enough stories of cheap knock-off chargers bursting into flames that I would not accept the risk. There is a reason you can see electrical goods in many businesses with safety inspection stickers on their power plugs and the device itself. I'm not going to risk my job for someone who can't be bothered to get up a half hour earlier so they can charge their phone enough to last the duration of their commute.

If I were the sort of person who talked so much that my battery drained at inopportune moments, I'd make sure to carry a spare battery.

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I know that some intercity trains have power points for commuters to plug their laptops in. There is also WiFi provided free to ticket holders.
If those sockets were solely for the use of cleaners I would think there would be a master switch somewhere to isolate them.
I haven't read the story of the man who was arrested so I won't comment but it does sound, from posts on here, he was being a "plonker".

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All this begs the question what the ell are those sockets for in the first place.
When the carriages are in the sidings out of use, how can the cleaners use them.
wheres the power supply coming from to those sockets.
If Sockets are provided for cleaners then some external source must be connected , then why are the outlets any where near passenger seats.
Somat smells.

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The electricity is generated by the train as it moves...according to a bloke on the radio, yesterday.

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It's the thin edge of the wedge. This all smacks of Worzel Gummidge and his electrickery.

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

Many trains have sockets on them so that you can use them, virgin trains with the tables on etc.

So if the public are allowed to use those how are they supposed to know that they should not use this particular socket - did it have a "do not use" sticker on - doubt it.

Someone should be kicking the cops backsides for being petty.

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

how do they prove the theft occurred unless someone checked his power level before and after he exited the train

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With what is charged in fares for some of those commuters it should be acceptable for commuters to be able to charge their phones free of charge.
Some fares cost thousands of pounds.....I think some of those travellers must feel as if they have bought the train....never mind a pen north of electric.

Re: "Stealing" Electricity
 

The PCSO was wrong. On all trains either above ground or below ground in and around the London area are manned by two people. A driver and. In old terms a Guard. Now called The Train Manager. The train Manager is in total control of all activities on board his or her train. Did the Train Manager complain to the PCSO regarding the theft of the electricity. This isn't stated anywhere in the article. The PCSO should have contacted The Train Manager to see if permission was given to the passenger. If the PCSO did not contact the manager. and if there was no complaint from the train operating company. Then the passenger has done nothing wrong.