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save TruckPol funding
Page 9
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By Joanna Bourke
THE HOME OFFICE must reverse its decision to stop TruckPol funding, and instead, increase its resources, according to one of its stakeholders.
Viper Guard, a stakeholder in the TruckPol division of the Association of Chief Police Officers' Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS), has set up an online petition to oppose the Home Office decision to axe the freight crime unit's annual £400,000 grant from 2009. Debbie Jones, general manager at the truck security company, explains: "We're challenging the Home Office to put its money where its mouth is by increasing, not withdrawing, its funding of TruckPol."
According to Jones, 100 people signed the petition in the four days following its launch on 11 November, and with a client base of 1,000 she predicts there will be many more signatures.
"You need data or nothing is going to move forward. TruckPol is vital for being aware of what freight crimes are taking place and where," she adds.
The AVCIS head of unit, Detective Constable Paul Lambotte, says private sponsors are required to ensure the future of the group.
He says: —Ibis demonstrates the strength and support from the industry. We would encourage those not currently involved to contact us."
• The petition finishes on 29 December and can be found by logging on to http:// petitions.number10.gov.uk/truckpol/