Truck theft needs national solution
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• Truck theft and other organised crime should be investigated by a national criminal agency, according to leading detec-tives.
In a survey of the UK's 150 most experienced police detectives, 80% put their weight behind the call for a national criminal investigation agency Over 90% thought the crisis in national and international organised crime would worsen with the opening of the Channel Tunnel next year.
The survey showed that in terms of the number of investigations into 15 major crimes, theft of valuable loads was tenth and goods vehicles and heavy plant was 14th. Both were surpassed by crimes including indecent assault, murder, drug and gun trafficking and fraud. The survey and study was conducted by Detective Chief Inspector Larry Covington of the Metropolitan Police.
It concluded there was a "vagueness of role and structure with regard to the investigation of national and international serious and organised crime".
The results add weight to other requests for a new national body to co-ordinate activity against organised crime includingcommercial vehcile theft.
In response to the survey, the Home Office says it has "no plans" to introduce a national investigation agency
Last November the Home Office rejected a call from Commercial Motor for a national police task force to combat commercial vehicle theft.