Cheshire Police partner up with NaVCIS to raise awareness on freight crime

Cheshire Police's Northern Problem-Solving Team partnered up with the National Vehicle Crime Service (NaVCIS) on Monday 11 September in a bid to combat vehicle and cargo related crime.

The day of action took place at Lymm Truckstop and forms part of Operation Chilli – an operation implemented in conjunction with the force’s ongoing efforts to crack down on thieves targeting lorries and other heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

Following a quick briefing presented by NaVCIS at Warrington Police Station, officers descended on Lymm Truckstop where they spoke to lorry drivers and haulage company owners, providing crime prevention advice and tips on how to stay vigilant and mitigate the risk of becoming victims of freight crime.

Officers then conducted targeted patrols on the local road network to identify any offences carried out by motorists and to ensure commercial hauliers were using motorways and main roads across the county safely and legally.

PC Danielle Goodwin, who led the operation, said: "Hundreds of thousands of HGVs use our roads every day, with many lorry drivers choosing to stop overnight in our county - and while we try our best to ensure those that do are safe and secure, we know that there are criminals who deliberately enter the area to target these vehicles.

"We understand the detrimental impact this can have on the haulage industry, as well as the lorry drivers who fall victim to this type of crime, and I hope this operation acts as a warning that Cheshire Police, along with NaVCIS, are working together to bring those suspected of criminal activity to justice.

“While this operation may have concluded, we will continue to patrol the road network across the county and with support from our partners, put an end to this type of crime.”

The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, or NaVCIS, is a non-profit initiative that works to bridge the gap between policing and the industry by helping to disrupt criminality and protect communities harmed by vehicle finance crime or organised crime. In doing so, the specialist police capability works on behalf of the UK police service to develop and share intelligence that will help them detect offences and pursue offenders.

Detective Chief Inspector Brett Mallon, Head of Unit at the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), said: "The UK Freight sector is targeted by organised criminals stealing cargos and fuel. The impact on the UK economy runs to hundreds of millions of pounds and ultimately, we all pay these costs through higher prices.

"Both Government and Policing take this very seriously with recently announced central funds being made available to help improve infrastructure and security at Lorry Parks and also through Policing operations that are catching the criminals involved. It has long been thought through our Policing and Industry Partners, that the UK needs to adopt a Secure Truck Parking Standard that is robust enough to defeat serious and organised criminality rather than to deter your Opportunist cargo thief.

"Lorry Parks and Truck stops that achieve a high standard of security and are awarded the Park Mark Freight accreditation are Annually assessed by Police Crime Prevention Officers. The Park Mark Freight initiative is an excellent initiative to help combat UK Cargo Crime.”

Anyone with any information regarding cargo related crime is asked to call Cheshire Police on 101 or report it via our website.