News

As predicted by the head of national intelligence unit TruckPol, the latest crime statistics for 2007 paint an inaccurate picture of security within the haulage industry. Figures for hijacks, thefts from vehicles, deception and warehouse thefts are all down on 2006, but only because police forces across the country did not provide vital data.

Between January and December 2007 there were 82 recorded hijacks and attempted hijacks, compared with 129 in 2006 thefts from vehicles almost halved  to 644, and deceptions - such as 'round the corner thefts' - fell a massive 56% to 38. However, Detective Constable Andy Round believes truck crime actually rose by 5% during the period. The failure to collate accurate figures has angered the Road Haulage Association, which blames the Home Office for failing to make any progress in this area ('TruckPol slams inaccurate freight crime stats'). But Round says the figures are useful and he believes the statistic for theft of vehicles - 1,176 compared with 1,505 the year before - is broadly accurate.

"We are working to resolve the issue," he says. "We have to acknowledge there is a reporting gap and we can't compare 2006 with 2007. That's just a fact of life." Round adds that a second letter sent  out to all chief constables demanding accurate, regular figures has received a "100% response" and he expects next year's figures to reflect this.