RHA calls on the government to create a specific freight crime offence
August 1st, 2024
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) is urging the new Labour government to improve security for lorry drivers by creating a specific freight crime offence and establishing a national truck parking security standard to reduce thefts.
Last year, a load worth £1.1 million was stolen from a lorry parked in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
While there is no precise figure for lorry thefts in the UK, the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) reported over 5,000 incidents of lorry crime in 2023, averaging 14 per day.
The NaVCIS, RHA, hauliers, and drivers all emphasise the need for more secure truck stops and upgrades to existing ones.
In response to high cargo theft levels, the British Parking Association (BPA) launched the Park Mark Freight scheme in 2022, which accredits truck stops with extensive security measures. Of nearly 50 assessed sites, only 10 have been accredited, with those sites reporting “zero to little crime.”
Sara Fisher, head of operations at the BPA, noted that the low number of accredited sites highlights the poor security standards of most truck stops.
The government stated it is working with the RHA to “raise awareness and crack down on freight crime.” In March, the previous government announced £16.5 million in joint government and industry investment to provide more parking spaces, better welfare facilities, and safer rest areas for lorry drivers.