TruckWatch to tackle North-West hot spot
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By Joanna Bourke TRUCK WATCH, the truck crime reduction initiative, has opened a new division to combat Lancashire's reputation as a freight crime hot spot.
The move comes as a 15-month freight crime crackdown by police unit TruckPol approaches its conclusion in the North-West. with a network of criminals in Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside awaiting court decisions and sentences, Between July and September, there were 30 recorded lorry crimes — including HGV and load thefts — in Lancashire alone, and 57 similar incidents between January and August.
Detective Constable Andy Round, of TruckPol, suggests the area's vulnerability lies in its accessibility. "There are good transport motorway links in the area, lots of distribution centres and the Port of Liverpool, which makes it a target," Inspector Stuart Bruce of Lancashire Police, adds: "Freight crime can have an adverse effect on the economy with businesses staying clear of hot spot areas."
On 2 October, the North-West launched its own Truck Watch scheme, covering Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
The business crime team from Liverpool Chamber of Commerce will run the service in conjunction with TruckPol and the relevant police forces. A spokeswoman for Lancashire Police confirms that between 1 and 6 October, there were no recorded road freight crimes in the region.