crime hijack

The reborn TruckPol intelligence service is gaining momentum and financial backing, according to National Business Crime Forum (NBCF) vice-chairwoman Jean Mountain.

Mountain, who chaired a second meeting of the forum, which has resurrected TruckPol, told MT the Business Crime Intelligence Bureau, which works alongside the NBCF, had begun feeding information about freight crime through to the RHA as planned.

The NBCF itself, meanwhile, is due to lobby MPs at the House of Commons on 22 November.

The forum has attracted funding and expects to secure a “major beneficiary” any day now, she added. “There are several large corporations that can see the NBCF has legs and that the right people are involved at the top,” she said.

“We are moving on at a rate of knots. We have got a structure, we have a business plan and it’s all coming to fruition,” Mountain added.

RHA head of crime and security Chrys Rampley, who attended the latest meeting on 23 October, welcomed the forum’s development. However, she said the organisation, agenda and funding remained unclear. “There are still lots of questions to be answered."

Various bodies including Merseyside and Humberside Police continue to act

independently on the issue of freight-related crime, added Rampley, leading to a fragmented approach nationally.

“I’m not confident in the way things are going,” said Rampley. “I’m disappointed that TruckPol can’t be resurrected within AVCIS [ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service], as that would make more sense.

“I know what our industry wants – something straightforward, and that falls easily into the AVCIS model. Now there are so many people and self-interests involved.”

The forum will meet again in early December.

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