Freight associations fight to save TruckPol

Date: 7/2/2012

A new campaign has been launched to safeguard the future of TruckPol, which is at risk of closure due to a cut in government funding.

The body, a national police intelligence unit that helps fight freight crime, has been funded by the private sector since the government withdrew its support last April and now three organisations have joined forces to raise awareness of the issue.

Fight Freight Crime, Save TruckPol is backed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA), the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and Road Transport Media and aims to raise funding from the road freight industry in order to help secure TruckPol's future.

The body regularly issues warnings on its website to help keep drivers aware of potential thieves and also runs appeals to track down stolen vehicles and goods.

FTA chief executive Theo de Pencier noted TruckPol "plays a key role in the fight against criminal gangs" and he urged the industry to step up and "save it at the eleventh hour".

His counterpart at the RHA Geoff Dunning said it would be a "catastrophe" that would set the freight industry back a decade if TruckPol were to close.