SPECIAL REPORT Q&A: Chrys Rampley
A press release announcing the initiative stated that in the last 12 months there have been 273 thefts from lorries parked in Northamptonshire. The police are clearly intent on reducing those numbers with the help of transport companies and motorway services operators.
Superintendent Sean Bell from Northamptonshire Police, said: “We hope the launch of the East Midlands Freight Crime Task Force will have a positive impact on reducing the number of thefts from lorries in Northamptonshire. We are urging lorry drivers to make sure they take as many steps as possible to secure their load and keep safe while taking a break.
8 network
“As part of our campaign we have a new trailer which is covered in a number of crime prevention messages in English, Polish and Romanian. These are the top three nationalities of drivers to be targeted by criminals in Northamptonshire. The trailer will be moved to different locations across the county in a bid to reach as many lorry drivers as possible over the coming months.”
Northamptonshire Police is working closely with the Road Haulage Association, motorway service station providers, the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) and neighbouring forces that form the East Midlands Operational Support Service (EMOpPS) as part of the campaign.
Superintendent Bell added: “As well as reminding drivers to secure their load as much as possible and remaining vigilant when parked up taking a break, we are continuing to run proactive police operations tackling those criminals who target lorries. Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of goods can be transported in a lorry with nothing more than a plastic curtain preventing those items being stolen, which is why organised criminals continue to commit this type of crime.
“I urge any road user to remain vigilant and to call police on 999 if they see someone acting suspiciously near a lorry which has parked up while the driver takes a break. Drivers are encouraged to leave dash cams on when possible and obtain registration numbers of suspicious vehicles.
“I also want to remind people that handling stolen goods is an offence. If you are offered an item for sale by someone in the pub or anywhere else other than a shop, and it is a lot cheaper than you would usually expect to pay for it, then consider where it’s come from and if you want to risk facing a conviction if it is found to be stolen.”
In it for the
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‘We are talking to each other and looking to pool best practice in tandem with the police, notably the East Midlands Task Force coordinated by Northants Police. There is a clear recognition that motorway services are being targeted and we now have a proactive response team to try and address this.’ Chrys Rampley, RHA
long haul
Police have also urged the road haulage industry to consider taking more preventive measures to cut crime, such as using rigid side trailers, escorting valuable loads, using secure parking where possible, and improving planning for lorry arrivals at warehouses.
All of this signals momentum and cooperation between the key stakeholders to bring about if not a total solution, at least a significant improvement.
Chrys Rampley at the RHA is among those taking a more optimistic view. “We are talking to each other and looking to pool best practice in tandem with the police, notably the East Midlands Task Force coordinated by Northants Police. There is a clear recognition that motorway services are being targeted and we now have a proactive response team to try and address this.”
Earlier this month, the RHA, East Midlands Freight Crime Task Force members and representatives of the major UK motorway service area operators met face-to-face to discuss the issue and share plans and ideas to make a positive difference. More frequent police patrols and more CCTV at ‘hotspots’ were two of the tangible outcomes.
CARGO CRIMES REPORTED TO TAPA EMEA LOCATION
UK Motorway Service Areas - 1 March-31 May, 2017 SERVICES
Northampton* Toddington
Leicester Forest East Watford Gap Trowell
Castle Donnington Thurrock
Cherwell Valley Hopwood Park
• Previously known as Rothersthorpe
Northamptonshire Bedfordshire Leicestershire
Northamptonshire Nottinghamshire Derbyshire Essex
Oxfordshire Worcestershire
NO. OF INCIDENTS 27 20 15 14 11 11 10 10 8
TAPA EMEA members reading this article who regularly use UK motorway services should also be thinking what they can do to prevent their drivers and trucks from becoming victims of crime.
In talking to various parties while compiling this report, it is clear that the police already have a significant level of intelligence on crimes groups believed to be behind many of these attacks. Hopefully, with the support of all stakeholders – including TAPA EMEA – it is only a matter of time before the offenders are caught in the act.
NICK BALLON
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