Freight crime must be classed as a crime - RHA tells The Daily Mail

With freight crime rising - as seen over the Christmas period, we continue to call for more safe and secure parking spaces and facilities across the country as organised gangs continue to target road freight in Britain. 

Senior Public Affairs lead Ashton Cull told the Daily Mail that freight crime is "low-risk, high-reward for highly organised and intelligence-led criminal gangs. We're calling for it to be classed as a crime in its own right."

With vehicles most at risk when parked up overnight, our Vice Chair Tim Wray told Tom Rawstorne Hauliers "need facilities that are safe, secure, well-lit and properly managed."

In 2023 there were 5,370 reported incidents of HGV and cargo crime in the UK which was a five percent increase on the previous year.

Since 2020, the direct cost of freight crime has been £306.8 million, with the true value of losses likely being over £1 billion.

We are calling for 11,000 more safe and secure parking spaces in the UK to help protect drivers and cargo. The lack of safe, secure parking results in many drivers having to take their rest periods in their vehicles at the side of the road putting them at risk.

Read our calls in full here.