WHO ARE RECIN?

In 2020, East of England Co-operative Society's security division (Co-op Secure Response) embarked on a commercial relationship with SONA Security, a specialist response and patrol provider, developing a strong focus on solar and BESS site security.

Over the next few years, they compiled criminal intelligence relating to solar farm crime but were always concious that with a portfolio of approximately 300 commercial solar farms under their protection (around one quarter of the farms in the UK), they were only privvy to 25 percent at best of all intelligence available from site break-ins, malicious damage and suspicious incidents.

Despite their best efforts to obtain additional intelligence from elsewhere, it became apparent that something more needed to be done to obtain a clearer picture of criminality within the sector, and with an appreciation that the same offenders were also targetting other types of renewable energy infrastructure, the idea of a "renewable energy crime intelligence network" came into being.

In early 2024, the Renewable Energy Crime Intelligence Network was born with a view to creating a national network for use by site owners and operators to avail themselves of emerging crime methods and trends, so that they could more accurately assess the immediate threat to their sites.

RECIN aims to bring renewable energy site owners and operators together to share information in order that as much criminal intelligence can be shared as possible, resulting in a more informed approach to site security and making it as difficult as possible for offenders to continue to target the renewable energy sector.

We provide a secure web form where site owners and operators can upload information about crime, damage or suspicious incidents to our database.

Once the raw information is received, we will assess it in line with national standards, check that there is nothing contained in it that we believe the submitter would not want disclosed, and we will then send the information out ASAP to all member operator and owners, normally on the same day.

The details of the person submitting, the name of the owner/operator and site, the exact site location etc. will not be circulated to other members.

For example, whilst we would ask for the full postcode, site name, owner/operator name, nearest trunk road and distance to it, nature of the incident, method used including property type stolen or damaged; the only information that will go out to the membership is the first part of the post code, the name of and distance to the nearest trunk road, and the method involved and details of what was stolen.

This we believe is more than sufficient to enable site owners and operators to make informed decisions about elevated risk to their own sites in that area.

If the information confirms an emerging trend, links offences or otherwise needs especially highlighting to members, we will send out an emergency bulletin.

If we receive information that is incomplete, appears to disclose confidential information or is otherwise not suitable for dissemination "as is", we will make efforts to contact the submitting person.

As well as circulating intelligence ASAP after submission, we will also send out a weekly update to all site owners and operators with a summary of intelligence for the week, together with updated heat maps of incidents.

All members will also be able to view historic records on our database, however the information will be restricted to the information as it was circulated, i.e. without the exact site locations, names, owners details etc.

We believe that this is the only network that deals purely with renewable energy related crime, with information supplied first hand by site owners and operators as well as from well placed third parties.

The intelligence disseminated will be current, detailed and actionable and over time we hope that it will progress to the stage that we receive reliable information about the vast majority of crime affecting the sector.

Accurate threat assessment and professional interpretation is difficult without specialism in the subject matter including "boots on the ground" experience. In the case of our administrators, renewable energy crime is our sole professional focus, from understanding how the systems work and are targetted, to being at crime scenes at 3am in the harshest of weather.

Security providers are an excellent source of information especially when site owners/operators don't pass on information. However, often the information is lacking in detail, or is passed on without permission.

Security providers will have access to a separate submission form, but they will not be able to become full members of the network at this time, nor will they receive the same updates from us as owners/operators will, nor will they have access to our database.

Any information provided to us that is third hand will be especially scrutinised and verified where possible prior to assessment for suitability to be disseminated to members.

Security providers will be able to apply for security membership, and if we do perceive that there is an immediate threat to officer safety, for example an OCG operating in the local area who have exhibited violence to persons at a site, we will issue an emergency bulletin to the relevant security member with generic information.

Security providers (whether this be manned guarding, technical solutions providers etc.) should not be approaching site operators or owners direct in any capacity, and we encourage that any such approach for financial gain or that is otherwise deemed inappropriate, be brought to our attention immediately.

"Networking" to some immediately means an opportunity for a pitch. Anyone using RECIN as an opportunity to sell a product or service will be removed and we will encourage all members to report any conduct they aren't happy with immediately.

Ultimately, whilst member organisation and associate member organisations may be identified on this website, individuals will not be identified to each other through the website or circulations etc. so we do hope that this doesn't ever happen.

We have no plans to monetise RECIN. Its running costs in terms of systems etc. are minimal at this time and administrators work on a voluntary basis.

It has been established to simply allow all site operators and owners to share and benefit from each others intelligence in a timely manner.

Whilst the founders of the network represent commercial companies, the only result they want from RECIN is that our their clients have as much access to current, accurate and actionable intellgence that can help them ensure that their sites are as protected as possible.

We will not disclose the identity of a site, its exact location, it's owner/operator, volume of loss etc. to any other member unless expressly asked to do so by the person submitting information. Even then we will require extra written disclaimer from a second person within that organisation before doing so.

We will not sell your information to anyone, nor will we allow access to the information by any third party not a member of the group.

We will not, nor will we allow any other party to approach you pursuant to selling you services or products as the result of information provided.

We are currently engaging with several respected industry figures with whom we have no commercial relationship to provide oversight of the network's administration, and to assist in dealing with complaints should they arise.