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Who's got a wallet on them?

10th February 2005
Page 70
Page 70, 10th February 2005 — Who's got a wallet on them?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Ray Dickson

is outraged that

operators have been challenged to pay for combating truck crime and settles down to re-watch The Godfather.

A!though this is my fortieth year in the transport industry. I never cease to be amazed by the crass stupidity shown towards the poor beleaguered haulier. Seven-and-a-half years of progressive lunacy from this government has resulted in this month's "I don't believe it" as the dear old West Midlands police superintendent has -come up with the goods" as it were. Following the limited success of Operation Indicate — ie doing what the police should automatically be doing nationally in order to protect our industry from the high levels of crime to which it is subjected — the West Midlands police now want local hauliers to cough up some £200,000 per annum to finance their activities.This despite the fact that we already pay rates towards policing.

Like all government controlled authorities it appears that the police now have to be self-funding, even profit making; and,not content with the millions of pounds in revenue from speed cameras and other spying devices, they now want more.

It seems they fail to appreciate that we already have to pay too much through local rates and hefty insurance premiums, which reflect both the growing cost of crime against the industry and uninsured motorists who flout the law.

Perhaps we might be better off with the old Italian system of paying protection money to the local Mafia. On second thoughts. hasn't this idea just been hijacked by the West Midlands police? No doubt this moneymaking protection racket will soon spread nationally as other superintendents jump on the bandwagon.

Of course,the police could be a bit more imaginative. Flow about routing calls to the local police station through 0898 or 0870 numbers? Have you attempted to contact your local police station lately? They'd make a fortune!

Another money maker would be to get a sponsorship for police uniforms. You could have PC123 on the sleeves and You get a smarter arrester with Alliance and Leicester" emblazoned on front and rear tunics in hi-viz lettering.

Well, how silly can this country get? Tough on Crime? Right! On a brighter note, we find this is the ideal time of year to search around for newer second-hand vehicles. Rarely able to justify new purchases,we rely on a small number of dealers whom we have come to trust to help us seek the types and models of vehicles we require. Planning can be a guessing game, but most hauliers have a gut-feeling as to which types of vehicles will be in demand during the busier months of March to December.

My counsel is not to wait until the volume of work increases and you are under pressure but to plan and purchase now. At this time of year there are some good quality, used trucks out there at very reasonable prices. •

Tags

Organisations: West Midlands police
People: Ray Dickson
Locations: Leicester

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