Third challenge to rescue deal
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w Independent recovery operators in South Wales are mounting their third legal challenge against the police over a decision made six years ago to appoint a single contractor for all local recovery work.
Gwent Recovery Group is resorting to legal action again after a new flurry of incidents allegedly revealed that the official police contractor is applying charges that are ''not subject to market forces".
According to GRG, the contractor in question charged a massive £6.879.89 for the recovery of an lveco lorry from Pontypool to Newport last month—a distance of about 11 miles.
CRC also contests the decision to appoint just one recovery operator, on the grounds that this practice denies independent firms the right to provide services to their customers.
GAG chairman Michael Eagles says: "Essentially, Gwent police are removing and restricting competition for the benefit of their own official contractor, and this in turn is distorting the market supply of vehicle recovery throughout the county."
Although Eagles admits that two previous legal challenges failed; he is confident that this occasion will be third time lucky for Gwent recovery operators. "We've got the best solicitors working on this one," he adds.