Logistics UK launches report into van crime

Tuesday 17 November 2020

More than one third of businesses have had a van stolen in the last 12 months, according to Logistics UK’s Van Security Report, launched this week. To understand the nature and scale of van crime, the business group collated data from police forces across the UK and sought real-life examples and insights from van users through a Van Security Survey. 

Denise Beedell, Policy Manager for Vans and Urban at Logistics UK, comments: “Van content theft has, on average, cost businesses £4,250 in the last 12 months. In addition to initial cost implications, logistics businesses also face increased operational costs and potential staff and customer retention difficulties as a result of these thefts. Currently, it is up to individual police forces to decide how to record commercial van crime, resulting in an incomplete picture of the extent of this type of crime. To better highlight the impact of these crimes on van operating businesses, to policy makers at all level of Government, Logistics UK is calling for a UK-wide standard reporting mechanism among all police force areas.”

Ms Beedell continues: “Logistics UK is also calling for the Home Office to allocate a national crime reporting code to allow better understanding of the scale and reach of this crime and to support better allocation of police resources. It must be recognised that this type of crime is not victimless and its impacts are felt keenly by operators and their employees. We will also be looking to work with manufacturers of vehicle and security equipment to explore what features can be developed for commercial vans to minimise van related crimes.”

For more information, and to view the full report, please visit logistics.org.uk/campaigns/forms/van-security-report-download-form 

Logistics UK (formerly FTA) is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.