To further spotlight the issue, Logistics UK will host a roundtable discussion in early September
In a groundbreaking move to combat the surge in freight crime, business group Logistics UK has formed a first-of-its-kind official partnership with the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS).
NaVCIS, a national policing unit dedicated to bridging the gap between law enforcement and industry, offers intelligence, guidance, and strategic advice to help reduce criminal activity across the logistics sector.
Maddi Solloway-Price, Head of Road Freight Policy at Logistics UK, stressed the urgency of addressing this growing issue: “Freight crime is on the rise, with goods worth more than £111 million stolen from vehicles in the past year.
"While the commercial cost of these thefts is obviously critical, particularly for an industry such as ours which operates on particularly narrow margins, the impact on drivers’ mental health and driver retention is especially concerning... They are the lifeblood of our industry and deserve to feel safe and secure when undertaking their daily work – that is our main priority.”
As part of the collaboration, representatives from NaVCIS will join Logistics UK’s autumn Transport Manager conference series to share expert advice on reducing risks to both cargo and personnel. Additionally, the two organisations will work together to analyse criminal methods, identify emerging threats, and develop preventative strategies.
PC Michael Dawber, Field Intelligence Officer at NaVCIS, highlighted the importance of this new alliance: “Our work uncovers the many ways organised crime groups operate in order to steal cargo from commercial vehicles. NaVCIS is the bridge between policing and industry.
"Through our data analysis, we hope to help the industry identify potential areas of weakness in the supply chain and protect goods moving from the manufacturer to the end user.”
To further spotlight the issue, Logistics UK will host a roundtable discussion in early September alongside MP Rachel Taylor and NaVCIS. The meeting will support Ms Taylor’s upcoming Private Member’s Bill, which seeks tougher sentencing for freight crime and is due for a second reading in Parliament on 12 September.
Ms Solloway-Price added: “Logistics operators and their drivers deserve to work in a safe environment. At Logistics UK, we are confident that this new partnership will help us to reassure our members while working with police authorities nationwide to ensure that risks to the supply chain are reduced.”