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Twisted fire
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starters
With the number of arson attacks on hauliers' yards increasing, CM finds out just how much arson can ruin a business
Words: Simon Jack ALTHOUGH RARE, arson is one of the most serious crimes hauliers can suffer and a number of attacks over the last year have highlighted its harsh effects.
On 14 April this year, Derbyshirebased Milltech Haulage lost six articulated vehicles in an attack. MD Greg Dukes says that, as a result, the company faces a "real, real struggle" over the next few months. "We'll survive but only just. We are a small haulier and it's probably set us back five years in our progress," he says.
The company ran six articulated vehicles — all of which were destroyed — and eight further trucks. In order to continue the business covered by the artics, it was necessary to take out short-term leases on a new fleet. Dukes says that so far it has managed to keep its contracts open, and is now offering a £1,500 reward. The incident, which was followed the next day by the theft of 600 litres of diesel from the remaining vehicles, was featured on the BBC's Crnnewatch Roadshow in June.
Although the damaged vehicles were insured, bringing the fleet back to the same standard as before will leave the company well out of pocket. "It will take £95,000-£100,000 to get to where we were," Dukes estimates.
Another company to suffer an attack is Bedfordshire-based Thomas Bros Excavation (Luton). In May more than 10 of its trucks were destroyed or damaged along with a tank of diesel and other equipment.
Director Andrew Burton says the firm is offering a £10,000 reward for information leading to conviction for the attack at its Beadlow Transport Depot. "Replacement vehicles were purchased within days, with the aim of resuming normal services as quickly as possible," he says.
Burton says the company has been supported by the "effort and commitment" of staff since the attack and by customers, its bank, insurance company and other haulage contractors There is little hard evidence as to whether such attacks are part of a growing trend or if the transport industry is in line with the government's Recorded Crime Statistics — which in fact show an overall decline in arson generally of 28.8% between 2005/6 and 2009/10.
The Freight Transport Association and security body TruckPol both say they have not had any reports of an increase in arson. However, Road Haulage Association (RHA) security manager Chrys Rampley says: "We have had a few reports from members and there does appear to have been a small spate of arson attacks. But we don't know what has kick-started it."
The Arson Prevention Bureau, which is run by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), says the vast majority of deliberate fires are started by opportunistic vandals. It believes other obvious perpetrators are business rivals, while Rampley believes that hauliers also need to be careful to try to avoid drivers that are laid off becoming too disgruntled. "Alternatively, it could happen when a theft goes wrong and the criminals then decide to set fire to vehicles," he adds.
While the extent and cause of arson is hard to quantify, what is certain is that it can have a devastating effect on a business. Brian Curran, director of Brian F Curran Haulage that was wound up in May, believes that an arson attack in 2009 on its premises near Halifax, which destroyed four of the 14-strong fleet, was a contributory factor in the firm's demise.
Curran says there was a shortfall of £38,000 after the insurance pay-out.
"It started us on the slippery slope and took money out of the business at an important time," he says.
The insurance premiums that companies must pay following an arson attack can increase, although this is not automatic. However, the current level of attacks is not causing an overall rise, according to the ABI."There is no evidence to suggest premiums are rising because of arson claims," says a spokeswoman.
There are fears that hauliers' ability to obtain justice when an attack does take place is being affected by police cuts and by experienced police officers being forced to retire after 30 years service.
Rampley explains: "Specialist knowledge is already being lost and there are fears that the officers who are left don't know or understand our industry." • • If you have any information, please call Derbyshire police on 0345 123 3333 in regards to the Milltech case or DC Amanda Durrant of Bedfordshire Police on 01.582 473325 in regards to the Thomas Bros incident.