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Words: Joanna Bourke THE LACK OF secure overnight parking has
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again come under the spotlight following a spate of vehicles being vandalised in the past few weeks. On 13 May, the curtains were slashed on eight trucks on the Al, but nothing was stolen. A further two lorries were attacked at the Bodkin Hall lay-by in Lincolnshire.
Police strongly advise drivers to avoid overnight parking in the area, but that isn't alw ays practical. Donald Armour, manager of fleet information at the Freight Transport Association (FTA), tells CM the transport industry should get better support from the government, and more should be spent on secure parking and policing truck crime.
Referring to the cost of the VED. Armour says: "Let's have a bit of a share of what we've contributed." In the meantime, he adds: "We have to do our own policing."
He also points out that some police forces are more proactive than others in action and reporting. Indeed, while some treat the issue as a key problem, others lack the resources so, essentially, car and lorry crimes are put in the same category. Chrys Rampley, secretary of the security committee at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), says: "Another issue we have is that police might not know what to look for. As an organisation, we try to give out information and work with them." Rampley believes that the community being made aware of the risks, as well as sharing information and intelligence, is crucial in fighting a serious crime which, ultimately, is not being recognised as a priority.
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