08/02/2012
Category: Truck insurance
Two leading trade associations have launched a new campaign to help tackle freight crime.
TruckPol is the national police intelligence unit looking into freight crime, but funding for it was withdrawn by the government in April 2011.
Since then, private sector firms have been providing financial backing for the service, appreciating the work it does and the impact it has on keeping truck insurance claims to minimum.
However, according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and Road Haulage Association (RHA), the funding has now nearly dried up, and TruckPol will have to close unless more backing is found.
In a bid to save the unit, the groups have launched the Fight Freight Crime, Save TruckPol campaign, in attempt to gather further support from the sector.
Theo de Pencier, chief executive of FTA, says TruckPol plays a key role in fighting crime in the industry, which is highly vulnerable to thieves.
"The fact that the industry it helps to protect has kept it afloat this last year shows how highly regarded it is," he added.
"Sadly, without government funding, TruckPol is once again facing closure and it is up to industry to save it at the eleventh hour."
RHA counterpart Geoff Dunning says it is important that everyone associated with the haulage sector recognises the true value of the service.
"TruckPol provides vital information on such criminal activity and is the only police resource dedicated to collating and disseminating data and intelligence on UK truck crime," he explained.
"To see the demise of this unit would be a catastrophe and would set us back ten years."
Funding TruckPol for 12 months costs £120,000, but the difficult economic climate means that the private sector is currently £30,000 short of its target for the next financial year.
Get a specialist business insurance quote from Swinton Commercial.
More news
|
News archive