Peterborough, UK: HGVs awaiting post-Brexit food checks could become easy targets for organised crime groups, warns the Road Haulage Association. The RHA believes that expected “significant delays” in the inspection process could mean more drivers having to park up in Kent, making them vulnerable.
Ashton Cull, public affairs manager at the RHA said: “If new checks lead to vehicles parked up in unsecure areas then it’s only going to make them a honeypot for organised criminals to come and attack.
“Freight crime is organised crime – they know what’s moving, when it’s moving and where it’s most at risk and they have clear methods.
“Some drivers now avoid certain services and truck stops because the security is bad, so if we see lorries gathering in a place – services or roadsides – where potentially security is poor, they are at increased risk of crime.
“We’ve been calling for the infrastructure to be in place ahead of time to make sure these checks can be done quickly and efficiently – you’ve got to think of the security for the loads.”
Cold Chain Federation chief executive Phil Pluck said that inflation driving up costs means stolen food is easy for criminals to sell on, which could make lorries waiting inspection vulnerable.
“Food is a key target. A container of frozen prawns has a value of about a quarter of a million pounds. You can imagine if someone said there was £250,000 in the back of that trailer someone would take a chance and try and get it.
“Also moving checks 22-miles inland gives opportunity to put a driver and cargo in danger or for that driver and cargo to go elsewhere before reaching the inspection point.”
