security Count the cost and do something
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by Inspector K. W. Norman,
Crime Prevention Section, New Scotland Yard, • The complexity of road haulage operations must not be the reason for doing nothing about security.
In this series of articles I shall examine various factors connected with the industry and suggest remedial steps to improve security over the whole field of operations.
It is acknowledged that security problems within the road transport industry are very complex but the value of the goods in transit is high. And the financial loss occasioned by the theft of even one load cannot too easily be written off. Indeed, it must always be remembered that the theft of a vehicle involves the operator in a financial loss quite apart from the load itself. There is loss of use, possibly repair to damage, and the cost of collecting the vehicle. Furthermore, repeated thefts and pilferage inevitably lead to loss of faith on the part of clients and termination of contracts. to say nothing of the insurance aspect.
Security is a state of mind which must be motivated by management. If management does not institute and provide security procedures, or appears to take little interest in the protection of property for which it is responsible, employees cannot be expected to go out of their way to provide such protection. Similarly, lack of interest on the part of management leads to pilferage within the organization.
Some idea of the magnitude of losses due to criminal activities can be gauged by the fact that property to the value of nearly £51m was stolen in the UK in 1968. This figure excludes motor vehicles taken away and found abandoned within one month and also excludes fraud. Of this total it is estimated that a little over £9m was recovered— leaving the thieves with an untaxed income of nearly E42m.
In May, 1967, the Home Secretary estimated the losses in industry and commerce through crime could amount to as much as £100m. In this connection, it has been suggested that no more than 15 per cent of the total crime committed is in fact reported to the police.
It is difficult to isolate statistics covering losses suffered by the road haulage industry from those suffered by industry as a whole. However, in 1968 in the Metropolitan Police District alone, the estimated value of property stolen was £22m and of this total over £1m was stolen from commercial vehicles while they were in the streets of the metropolis.
Current trends indicate organization and determination on the part of thieves. Surely the time is ripe for a similar mobilization of defences against criminal attack. Crime prevention officers in all police forces throughout the UK are ready and available , to give advice and assistance in this connection. A mere telephone call is ali that is required to obtain this advisory service.