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In the line of fire
Page 22
Page 23
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Two hauliers have been the victims of truck fires in recent months, threatening their firms. But who should be investigating this category of crimes? Truckpol? The police? The fire service?
Words: Chris Tindall TWO EAST ANGLIAN hauliers who have suffered hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage as a result of suspected arson, are concerned they are being singled out.
The fires at the premises of Gary Cooper Paving and nearby Richardson Grab Hire have severely tested the profitability of both firms, but the owners are confident they can bounce back because their customers have been sympathetic. However, the operators live in fear of repeat fires that could push them to the wall.
Although arson attacks on lorries are still comparatively rare, this issue has prompted lire investigation experts to start calling for a dedicated national organisation to investigate these crimes since police forces appear to be under resourced.
Truckpol is an obvious choice, but with funding issues currently hanging over the freight crime unit, it is left to county police forces to catch the perpetrators.
Insurance premiums
Gary Cooper claims six vehicles were destroyed, including three tippers and a grab lorry and one other HGV was damaged in the fire in Wymondham on 27 December 2008.
He goes on to claim he may have been the victim of arson. He says: "I've been told one in three arson attacks results in a company failing in 12 months" Cooper is concerned that he is being targeted, adding: "It's demoralising. Our offices were not burnt or all our vehicles, but, at the moment, we are looking to scan our documents and remove things that don't have to be there."
Disgruntled
Less than two miles down the road, Paul Richardson is still counting the cost of a second truck fire at his business premises in two years.
The attack occurred exactly one month before Cooper's lorries were lost, and almost a year after the first fire.
He reckons his insurance bill has topped f300,000, and that if he is targeted again his business will fail.
Richardson says: "The first time we lost £250,000 worth of vehicles. It worries me more about my insurance. Every time the phone rings in the night you panic. We've survived it twice, but we don't think we'd recover a third time."
Richardson believes there is a link to both his grab hire company fires. He adds: "We are the biggest grab hire business in East Anglia. If it is arson, it's jealousy and sour grapes."
This notion is backed by the Road Haulage Association (RHA). Chrys Rampley, its infrastructure manager, says when arson occurs, it tends to be disgruntled people who are the culprits.
That said. fire investigation expert Richard Baker casts doubt on a competitor going so far as to destroy a business, but he does agree that grudges are often harboured by disgruntled individuals. Harbouring grudges He says: "I don't think people are going around thinking, 'You're a competitor, you're better than us. I will set fire to you'. It's a serious offence al court. It can be anyone ranging from someone who wasn't listened to. or was sacked, or an ex-employee, or someone treated badly, to the odd sick person who wants to light tires. Normally, the majority of the criminal fraternity want to get something that's valuable."
Baker adds: "I would think the police are totally under-resourced with the amount of work they have to do.There's a need for a national organisation. Truckpol could be an ideal vehicle, but there needs to be a will from the top to get to the bottom of something.
"A few lorries burnt in Norfolk: does it really have that environmental or economical impact on the public? Not really, no."
Specialist investigators Truckpol reveals to CM that arson attacks on hauliers are not something it investigates. Detective Constable Andy Round says police will often categorise it as 'criminal damage: arson' and, therefore, it will not be reported to Truckpol as a freight crime.
When asked if these crimes would stand a better chance of being solved if a specialist crime unit such as Truckpol was investigating them, Round says: "Possibly. But not at the moment. We are waiting for the Home Office to tell us if we are getting funding."
A Home Office spokeswoman says the funding arrangements for Truckpol for the next financial year have yet to be finalised.
She goes on to say: "The Home Office is committed to improved vehicle crime intelligence and has already committed over million to the ACP° Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS).
"Police forces and local partners will continue to monitor crime trends closely to ensure resources are deployed to address local priorities including lorry crime where appropriate."
Norfolk Police had not responded as Commercial Moior went to press.