FTA announces link-up to prevent and protect against truck theft

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is to join forces with online truckers’ community TruckersWorld to prevent and protect against truck theft. From October 2009, FTA will be supporting TruckersWorld’s Truck Theft Text Alert (TTTA) as part of the logistics sector’s bid to bring down truck theft and bring those guilty of it to justice.

The TTTA scheme passes the details of trucks or trailers which have been stolen to HGV drivers by text and encourages them to be on the look-out. If spotted, drivers can then alert the police who can execute a recovery of the load – and take the criminals into custody.

FTA’s Jo Tanner said:

“FTA is delighted to support this scheme, which already has widespread support among the driving fraternity. One of the more sinister outcomes of the economic downturn has been the rise in thefts from trucks, from the siphoning of diesel to the hijacking of complete units, increasingly with menace or violence to drivers. TruckersWorld’s Truck Theft Text Alert will hopefully not only help in the recovery of losses but also put thieves off altogether.”

Barrie Tozer, TruckersWorld’s founder, said:

“TruckersWorld members are at the sharp end of truck theft, which is why FTA’s support for the TTTA is great news. Their support will allow us to make the scheme available to even more drivers and help the police and vehicle operators recover stolen trucks and trailers. We hope that other organisations, such as those in the insurance sector, will follow FTA’s lead and recognise the value of the TTTA too. Then perhaps we can bring truck theft right down.”

There has been concern within the sector that theft of or from trucks and trailers has not been given the priority it deserves from the police. As a result, operators have either sought out their lost vehicles and loads themselves or simply written them off. FTA and TruckersWorld are strongly encouraging their members to report any losses to the police.

Jo Tanner concluded:

“What we currently have is a classic vicious circle, where operators have little faith in the police and therefore fail to report losses, while the police do not see the true picture of the problem and therefore do not provide the resources. We need operators to draw a line under this now and report any and all losses to the police. Only then will these thefts get the police profile and priority they need.”

AVCIS, the Association of Chief Police Officer’s division devoted to vehicle crime which includes TruckPol, has also endorsed the TTTA.

Ends

Notes to Editors
1. The Truck Theft Text Alert is available to all operators who in the unfortunate event have a vehicle or trailer stolen. A text message to a central number will receive a return call to obtain and confirm relevant details – make and model of the vehicle, livery, county it was stolen in and direction of travel – those details are then disseminated by text message to all those drivers who have signed up to the scheme. If they see the vehicle, they are advised to contact the police. They are strongly discouraged from taking any other action.
2. TTTA members are strongly advised to abide by the law, including not using their mobile phones while driving.
3. Truckersworld is a community of professional drivers which has come together to improve the logistics sector and to promote a better image of the profession to the general public. Within its membership are personnel from the police, VOSA and the Highways Agency, all of whom share their advice on best practice with other members of the community. The Truckersworld website receives over 55milllion hits per annum. Drivers use the online forum to share their experiences of driving and the challenges that they face on a day-to-day basis. Those experiences are shared with senior political figures and opinion formers, allowing drivers to help influence and shape the future of transport.
4. FTA is the UK’s only multi-modal transport trade association, representing over 14,000 members operating on roads, rail, sea and in the air.
5. ACPO’s Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) has endorsed the TTTA as part of the fight against truck crime.
6. For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact FTA’s media team on 01892 552244 or, for out of hours enquiries, 07985 874248

AVCIS ENDORSES TRUCK THEFT ALERT SYSTEM

Media information: 17 September 2009

AVCIS (ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service) and its dedicated freight crime unit TruckPol are working with the Freight Transport Association and TruckersWorld.co.uk on the implementation of an alert system to notify freight drivers of truck and load theft.

The Truck Theft Text Alert System, which will be launched at the beginning of October, has been developed by Barrie Tozer of TruckersWorld.co.uk to raise awareness of the theft of freight vehicles and their loads through text message alerts. Freight drivers can sign-up to the service to receive alerts, which provide information on the vehicle, including its registration, livery colour and distinguishing marks in order for others drivers to keep a look out while on the road.

With thousands of freight drivers on Britain’s roads, the service will work as a deterrent for criminals, who are more likely to be spotted moving vehicles around or unloading goods. The free service aims to increase the frequency and speed of information being passed on to the police in order for them to act quickly and make recoveries.

AVCIS’ Head of Unit, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Hooper said, “TruckPol has been working with the haulage industry for many years to develop a scheme that can quickly and safely notify the hundreds of lorry drivers on our roads that a vehicle has been stolen. The service proposed by Barrie Tozer seeks to complement existing TruckWatch schemes and is to be commended.

“Safeguards exist to ensure that drivers only pick up messages when safe to do so and on that basis we fully support the aims of the scheme. The theft of a lorry and its load has significant consequences on companies and the UK economy, and is therefore a project that TruckPol will be working on closely in order to extend its reach.”

“We’re delighted to receive the support of AVCIS and TruckPol in this initiative,” said Barrie Tozer of TruckersWorld.co.uk. “With freight crime causing such an impact on businesses and the economy, raising awareness is paramount to catching criminals and in turn reducing the rate of offences.”

For more information, or to sign-up to the scheme, please visit http://www.truckersworld.co.uk.

Notes to Editors

For more information, please contact a member of the AVCIS PR team either by telephone: 01908 635300, or on AVCISPR@rsm-live.com.

It is recognised that 'traditional' vehicle crime, such as theft of or from vehicles is no longer regarded as a policing priority by most forces. Therefore, under the guidance of the Association of Police Officers (ACPO) portfolio lead for Vehicle Crime matters, the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) was launched on 15th December 2006 and is based in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire within the NIPA (National Policing Improvements Agency) site. The unit was initially funded by the Home Office, through the ACPO Acquisitive Crime Board and answers to Deputy Chief Constable David Ainsworth, of Wiltshire.

AVCIS does not exist in isolation, but operates within a complex and dynamic environment where national priorities are changing and high-level strategies require constant interpretation and reinterpretation. AVCIS works with partner agencies and all stakeholders within the trade and associated businesses to provide the most effective response. AVCIS speaks for the UK policing in respect of vehicle enabled crime matters.

AVCIS incorporates a number of specialist functions including TruckPol, the national freight crime intelligence service, and the Vehicle Fraud Unit who investigate organised finance fraud.

AVCIS offers the UK Police Service:
• A single point of contact for advice in relation to vehicle crime
• A team committed to tackling vehicle enabled crime
• An opportunity to work free from the barriers and constraints of a single police force
• No draw on resources for other operational matters
• A credible voice for the service within the industry
• A new concept with the full backing of the ACPO and therefore definition of all police forces in the UK

AVCIS – The Facts1
• AVCIS has recovered in excess of 1,450 vehicles
• The total value of recovered assets exceeds £32.5 million
• AVCIS has made 200 arrests