LORRIES which pass through Warrington are being highlighted as part of a crackdown against freight crime costing firms hundreds of millions of pounds.
Cheshire Police has partnered up with the National Vehicle Crime Service (NaVCIS in a bid to combat vehicle and cargo related crime.
The day of action took place at Lymm Truckstop yesterday, Monday, and forms part of Operation Chilli – a crackdown on thieves targeting lorries and other HGVs.
Following a quick briefing, 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.
“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.
“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.
Cheshire Police and NaVCIS launch lorry freight crime crackdown
“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.”
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.
DCI Brett Mallon, head of unit at NaVCIS, added: "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.”
Anyone with any information regarding cargo related crime is asked to call Cheshire Police on 101 or give details via cheshire.police.uk/tell-us
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