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Police aim to boosl truck crime team
Page 6
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The detective who runs TruckPol plans to expand his specialist team of trucking crimefighters. Guy Sheppard reports.
THE UK'S ONLY TEAM of police officers dedicated to fighting truck crime could double in size as part of a new anti-terrorism initiative — and their ranks will be further swelled by a voluntary network of drivers.
TruckPol, formerly known as the National Stolen Lorry Load Desk, is currently run by the Metropolitan Police: its establishment comprises two police officers and a civilian researcher.
However, TruckPol's effectiveness is being questioned by the Road Haulage Association which claims that other police forces are failing to provide it with sufficient intelligence.
Detective Sergeant Mark Hooper, head of TruckPol. says: "I have asked for another three police officers or researchers to provide 24-hour. seven-days-aweek cover. The basis on which we have put this forward is a counter-terrorism initiative."
Hooper also wants to build up a network of truck drivers who can act as the eyes and ears of police when dangerous loads such as chemicals and fuel are stolen.
Last month (February) the government issued a voluntary code of practice to prevent such loads being used to create "mass casualties or mass destruction" (CM 12 February).
Ways of communicating with professional drivers are still being explored but Hooper says e-mails, text messages and even matrix signs on motorways could end up being used.
He adds that part of the initiative would also involve revamping TruckWatch, a joint initiative between the police. RI-IA and the Freight Transport Association.
Apart from the Home Office, funding for Truck Pol's expansion will also come from industry sponsors: Hooper says they will be given access to frequently up-dated information about truck crime.
However, Tony Allen.chairman of the RHA security committee, says there has been a sharp decline in intelligence supplied to TruckPol by other police forces since it was taken over by the Met last year.
"West Yorkshire for instance moved from having the second highest statistics to almost nil," he adds. -Essex Police, who used run the office, now provide har any statistics or information."