Government urged to crack down on freight crime

Logistics UK joined an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Freight and Logistics as it launched its latest report on 19 November, Securing our supply chains: How the government can crack down on freight crime. 

The issue of freight crime is a growing hindrance to the UK’s supply chains and the report aims to provide a roadmap for government of the steps needed to tackle the problem. 

Freight crime offences in 2023 were responsible for the loss of £68.3 million wholesale value in stolen goods, with an estimated true value of between £680-£700 million. There is a growing community of professionalised criminals who see freight crime as a low risk-high reward activity, with the law treating theft from lorries in the same manner as opportunistic theft from a car. 

The true cost of freight crime is not just the value of goods stolen; it has immediate knock-on effects on the freight and logistics industry and wider economy, affecting companies’ viability, staff retention, and general investment in the UK.  

Opening remarks were made by Rachel Taylor MP (APPG Chair), the authors of the report and presentations from other relevant bodies within the police force before opening for wider discussion and questions on preventative measures and improvements to tackle freight crime head-on. 

The MAC's Top 5 Tips for protecting your vehicle and cargo

With thefts from vehicles on the increase, operators are looking at ways to ensure that their vehicles are safe whilst on the public highway and when the vehicle is parked up overnight.

When looking for places for your drivers to park up, there are a few things that should be taken into consideration:

1. Vehicle access and egress - is the site manned, does the entrance have a gate or barrier?

2. Pedestrian access – can the public access the site?

3. Lighting – does the site have any security lights, does the lighting stay on all night? 

4. Security – is the site manned on a 24-hour basis with cameras and patrols?

5. Location of the parking site – what are the crime levels in the area?

If, however, the driver is not in the position to use a secured facility then they should find a well-lit area that has frequent traffic and where possible, CCTV in operation.

When the vehicle and loads are in transit, route planning should be arranged to vary the routes and stops where possible. Organised gangs will spend days and weeks following vehicles to determine both their destination and where possible, what types of loads they are carrying.

Although the focus would be on the drivers to report any suspicious vehicles that may be following them directly to the police and then informing their traffic office, the employees at the point of loading should be checking as well and reporting vehicles or people that are hanging around the entrance or site.

Theft Prevention - Logistics UK's Top 10 Tips For Drivers and Managers

Published On: 21/11/2024 15:00:00

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