Freight crime cost over £680 million

Freight-related crime cost the UK economy an estimated £680-700 million in 2023, when accounting for lost revenues, VAT, and insurance costs, revealed a recent report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Freight and Logistics.

The study, funded by the Road Haulage Association (RHA), documented 5,370 reported incidents of HGV and cargo crime across the UK last year, a 5 per cent increase on the previous year. Experts suggest that the actual figures could be significantly higher due to under-reporting. The direct value of stolen goods reached £68.3 million.

According to data from the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), major crime hotspots include Stafford with 138 offences, Thurrock with 103, and Warwick Services with 87. The East of England, Yorkshire and Humber, and South East regions experienced the highest concentration of incidents, with the West Midlands seeing incidents double in 2023 and Yorkshire/Humber recording a 65% increase since 2021.

Analysis reveals distinct seasonal patterns, with fourth-quarter criminal activities increasing by 56 per cent in 2022 and 26 per cent in 2023, coinciding with the Christmas retail period.

The report highlights significant infrastructure challenges, noting a national shortage of approximately 11,000 lorry parking spaces. Current facilities are operating at 83 per cent capacity nationwide, with utilisation exceeding 90 per cent in the South East, East Midlands, and East of England. The A14 Cambridge-Felixstowe route, serving Britain’s busiest port, has reached 100 per cent capacity for overnight parking.

Three-quarters of recorded freight crimes occurred in independent road parking areas or unsecured motorway service stations, with incidents at motorway services increasing by 59 per cent in 2023.

The APPG’s research indicates that rather than being opportunistic, these crimes are largely conducted by organised groups targeting high-volume routes near major ports. Small and medium-sized enterprises, which comprise 90 per cent of the sector, are particularly vulnerable to losses.

The impact on Britain’s supply chains is substantial, considering that road freight moves 89 per cent of all goods and 98 per cent of agricultural and food products. The cross-party group has proposed several measures, including the establishment of national secure parking standards, enhanced law enforcement resources, and reforms to planning frameworks to increase secure parking facilities.

The report forms part of a broader examination of supply chain security and follows the government’s allocation of £32.5 million in November 2022 for truck stop improvements, supplementing £20 million provided by National Highways earlier that year.