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Policy & Compliance


NaVCIS: the UK crime agency targeting cargo theft


The Freight Unit of the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) has been involved in numerous theft cases related to cargo crime in the UK, recently acting to recover £200,000 of stolen goods. Long-time supporter, international freight transport insurer TT Club welcomes the agency’s successes in recovering goods and tracking their owners, significantly reducing the extent of the loss


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Through the early period of lockdown in the UK, there was a demonstrable change in behaviour and tactics of criminal organisations involved in cargo theft. Restrictions on free movement impacted criminal ‘business models’, resulting in a reported increase in local criminal activity involving thefts from warehouse facilities. There were a number of ‘hook-up’ thefts,


whereby perpetrators stole entire loaded trailers from premises. This type of incident underlines the need for physical barriers to protect goods and assets. King-pin locks, perimeter fencing, CCTV and security guards would also serve to deter perpetrators. Following a spate of arrests across the UK in


such cases, police searched various premises and discovered several hundred boxes of fashion goods. In the normal course of events, these goods risk disposal or destruction. Fortunately, on this occasion, the arresting police force contacted NaVCIS’ Freight Unit to report the discovered goods. The agency used its extensive database of theft activity to identify the reported loss of such goods and restore them to their


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rightful owner. In this instance, nearly £200,000 worth of stolen goods were recovered and returned. The Freight Unit is part of NaVCIS, a national police unit that acts as a bridge between the police and industry. Different sections of the service, of which the Freight Unit is one, handle crime involving ports, vehicle financing fraud and agricultural machinery, among other types of crime.


Protecting communities It works hard to protect communities in the UK from the harmful consequences of crime. It provides dedicated police capability into developing and disseminating intelligence that helps police forces pursue offenders, recover stolen goods and prevent crime, when and where possible. “This is a great demonstration of the valuable


work being undertaken by NaVCIS’ Freight Unit,” said Mike Yarwood, TT Club managing director loss prevention. “Unfortunately, the unit would not exist without the continued support and


sponsorship of multiple private entities,” he continued. “Results like this should be a call to action for all potential stakeholders to support this valuable resource – less about direct benefit, rather taking responsibility to tackle crime proactively.” Along with BIFA, TT Club has supported


NaVCIS’ Freight Unit for a number of years as it believes its work is crucial to understanding and stamping out crime in the supply chain. As restrictions on movement are lifted in the


UK, stakeholders need to be ever more vigilant, exercising due diligence to ensure that they maintain security in what is predicted to be a very active period of cargo theft. The COVID-19 lockdown is unlikely to have diminished organised criminal gangs’ appetite to realise funds through cargo theft, which continues to be a low-risk, high-gain opportunity for them.


For more information on how to support the work of the NaVCIS’ Freight Unit and to help mitigate the risk of cargo theft, please contact freight@navcis.pnn.police.uk.


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