An online tool that calls on MPs to back a new code for freight crime and help protect lorry drivers and smash criminal gangs has been launched by the RHA.
The tool, which takes only a minute to complete and generates a draft email that can be sent to your local MP, comes ahead of the second reading of the Freight Crime Bill on 12 September.
MP Rachel Taylor has proposed that freight crime has its own crime code to help police target hotspots.
The RHA referred to police figures that showed the value of goods stolen in 2024 alone was at least £111m – an increase of 63% on the previous year.
The police estimate the cost to the UK economy has been more than £1bn since 2020.
Declan Pang, RHA public affairs and policy director, said freight crime was likely to be under recorded without a crime code to differentiate incidents from other thefts from vehicles.
He has urged hauliers to use the RHA’s online tool to lobby their MPs to support the Bill.
“The theft of hundreds of thousands of pounds of high-value goods from a lorry is recorded the same as the opportunistic theft of a phone or bag from a car,” he said.
“This makes it extremely challenging for police to anticipate emerging trends and direct resources accordingly.
“A new crime code would improve intelligence and help officers better protect lorry drivers and their loads and vehicles from criminal gangs.”
The RHA is also urging MPs to support calls for stricter sentences and for £6m annual funding to boost the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) in the autumn budget.
