Truck crime drops, but agency warns against complacency
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
COVER STORY
joanna.bourkefarbi.co.uk THE NUMBER OF recorded truck crimes has fallen for the third consecutive quarter, according to the latest TruckPol statistics, but the trend is not expected to continue.
Between July and September, there were 566 freight crimes reported to TruckPol: a 15.5% fall on the 670 in the same period last year.
During 03, truck theft was the most frequent crime, with 359 cases, however, this was still a drop on the 391 that occurred in the same period in 2009. Hotspot areas for crime include Leeds. Liverpool, London and Milton Keynes.
New TruckPol head DC Sue Coutts, who replaced DC Alan Soames in September, says: "I have been working to improve communication between Truckpol and each constabulary, and we have now identified a single point of contact in every police area.
"Road traffic police officers have been more proactive in being aware of, and targeting, freight gangs" She believes the industry is also more aware of crime and being more vigilant.
Finance manager at Chichesterbased Bleach of Lavant, Vernon Walker. says: "We have certainly not been the victim of freight crime over the past six months, whereas before we would have had our curtains slashed around three times a year. For us, the A34 service stations by Newbury have been a hotspot for crime, so we have advised our drivers to avoid parking there."
However,a spokesman at Leedsbased TW Devanney & Sons, says: "From what I have heard from operators around the country, there has not been a decline in the number of thefts from trucks."
Despite the fall in crime levels. Coutts warns she expects a rise in 04: "Lorry crime is a cyclical problem, and we urge against complacency in light of this positive news, as typically Christmas is the peak time for freight crime gangs."