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Anti-crime group Indicates new police determination
Page 8
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The West Midlands is a truck crime black spot — but the police seem to be listening to operators' complaints. Guy Sheppard reports.
WEST MIDLANDS Police have set up a team of 10 officers dedicated to tackling truck theft across the region.
Operation Indicate, based at Wednesbury police station in the Black Country, follows widespread criticism of the force's response to truck crime (CM 10 June).
A similar initiative called Coppergold was wound up last year even though the region is an acknowledged national blackspot for truck crime.
Superintendent Andy Bebbington, who is overseeing the project, says: "The team has been set up to actively target those individuals who commit this type of offence and to highlight work the industry can do to help us tackle it."
The Indicate team, including a detective inspector, an analyst and an intelligence officer, will carry out patrols in high-risk theft areas and will liaise closely with neighbouring forces that border the M5 and M6 motorways.
It will also hand out crime prevention information to hauliers and drivers to highlight the need to keep trucks secure at all times.
Anyone with information can call the team directly on 0121 626 9121 or go through the national Crimestoppers unit on 0800 555111.
Last year, a single operation co-ordinated by West Midlands Police resulted in 37 arrests and the recovery of more than £600,000 worth of trucks and cargoes.