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Met takes charge of stolen load database
Page 14
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More than 3,500 lorry loads were stolen last year—but this growing crime is being given a higher priority as the National Stolen Lorry Load Desk moves to the Metropolitan Police. Emma Penny reports.
• The speed of goods distribution through the black market can rival anything a logistics company in the UK can achieve, according to the police. It's startling, but true, and it's why police forces throughout the UK find the work of the National Stoler Lorry Load Desk (NSLLD) so invaluable.
A man who knows only too well about how quickly stolen goods move through the country is Frank Heinrich-Jones. As a director of PLC Consultancy Services which provides risk and security related services, a crucial part of his job is liaising with the road transport industry on behalf of the NSLLD.
The NSLLD, a UK-wide police/industry partnership, has been running for more than four years, and now deals with more than 3,500 incidents a year, worth more than 2100m.
Heinrich-Jones says the desk, which is currently operated by Essex Police, has "become a victim of its own success".
The desk rs run single-handedly by PC lain McKinnon but a rapidly increasing workload meant Essex Police thought that a better home could be found for the desk, so it's due to move to the Metropolitan Police by the end of this year.
More services
Heinrich-Jones says: "The desk could do more work if it had increased support, and it could offer more services to industry. The Met was selected as the best base as it would offer a permanent home."
When it moves to the Met the desk will come under the control of Assistant Commissioner David Veness, who is in charge of specialist operations such as anti-terrorist activities. A project team has already been set up to ensure a smooth transition between Essex and the Met, headed by DCI David Ryan of the serious and organised crime branch at New Scotland Yard.
After the move the desk will be located at the Met's Chalk Farm office, alongside the stolen vehicle squad, and there will be benefits from this, says the Road Haulage Association's security specialist, Chrys Rampley: "Stolen vehicles are their forte and there's a lot of expertise in that team already."
One of the key changes the industry would like to see introduced is a greater focus on vehicles—and the desk's name is likely to change to reflect that.
The NSLLD was initially set up because the police's stolen vehicle database did not cover loads, and sometimes only the tractors—which were often less valuable than the cargo.
However, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders says it would like more information on vehicles that are attacked or stolen—the make, model, registration number and so on, which will help identify which vehicles are most secure.
Expanding the desk should also mean it is better able to gather and make use of intelligence. This is vital,
says HeinrichJones: "Police want to be able to investi
gate the links between thefts anc work out who the Mr Big is... who is controlling every thing. He may con trol, say, 200 people. They want to use intelligence to take the perpetrators out."
Theft details
That's why the police are also hoping that more hauliers will supply theft details, even where they haven't reported the incident to the local police. More information would mean police could mount covert operations to track gangs, making better use of a very finite resource, says Heinrich-Jones.
Rampley believes hauliers will also benefit from better resources when the desk moves to the Met, allowing
more opportunity for analytt work. 'They can then provi information on where particu hotspots are, where trucks c only park in groups or whi areas are best avoided al gather." she points out.
With the problem spread and gangs prepared to tra overseas to steal loads, sor Continental countries are al considering setting up stol lorry load desks—and the Ul success means it's likely to used as a model.
Heinrich-Jones believ these countries are likely to
for the police and industry Par nership the UK has poneere • Frank Heinrich-Jones, I lain McKinnon and DCI Day Ryan will be speaking at ne week's Road Haulage Assa iation Security Seminar Birmingham.
ContactChrys Rampley at ti RHA on 01932 841515.
• National Stolen Lorry r_N Desk website www.esse) police.uk/Ildesk.