Associations join CM’s fight to save TruckPol
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By Hayley Pink THE ROAD Haulage Association (RHA) and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) are joining forces with CM to secure the future of TruckPol through the ‘Fight Freight Crime, Save TruckPol’ campaign.
Since the withdrawal of its government grant last April, the national freight crime intelligence unit, which is headed by DS Sue Coutts, has primarily been funded by haulage and insurance companies.
However, the unit has revealed it faces closure at the end of March as no further form of government funding is available for the next inancial year.
RHA chief executive Geoff Dunning says: “TruckPol is the only police resource dedicated to collating and disseminating data and intelligence on UK truck crime. To see the demise of this unit would be a catastrophe and would set us back 10 years.” The unit retains its support from the industry, with NFT using it to circulate nationally the details of a stolen trailer it is trying to trace.
Tom Starkey, MD of operations at NFT, says: “TruckPol is a valua ble source of information in the ight against truck crime. It is crucial in sharing information and reducing opportunities for criminals to target our industry.” Warren Taylor-Smith, proit protection manager for UK and Ireland at Wincanton, says: “The shared intelligence on incidents and the assistance with our own investigations has been very beneicial.” Transport Select Committee head Louise Ellman says she wants to ensure the issue of freight crime is given the “priority it deserves” .
FTA chief executive Theo de Pencier warns: “Without government funding, TruckPol is once again facing closure and it is up to industry to save it at the 11th hour.” • To make a donation to the campaign, go to www.commercialmotor.com/savetruckpol
OPERATORS SAY...
Maritime Transport MD John Williams: “At a time when freight is under increasing threat from thieves, it would be a huge backward step to lose a dedicated team responsible for fighting truck-related freight crime and providing safety for drivers on UK roads.” Fagan & Whalley operations manager Daniel Wood: “We believe CM’s campaign to save TruckPol is a great idea and we support it.” DHL Supply Chain regional security manager (North) John Legge: “Not only does TruckPol act as a conduit of intelligence between the police and the industry, it has a direct impact on driver safety and prevention of further offences.”