our transport sector here in the UK is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of our most influential. It only takes a moment to consider how much we all rely upon it – whether that’s in our shopping habits, how we get to and from work, or even in our much-needed holidays – and how much of an unseen impact it has on our daily lives.
It ought to go without saying then, that the security of our transport and haulier industry requires as robust a solution as the sector itself. That’s exactly what we’ll be uncovering with our latest in a series of articles on industry-specific protection measures.
Much like our recent deep dive into security for the construction industry, we’ll begin by taking a look at the key statistics behind the scenes, and what they might mean for one of the UK’s largest sectors.
We’ll also be offering practicable advice on what you can do to truly transform how you protect your transport sector endeavours, and how each measure synergises to create a comprehensive security solution.
Crime and criminality is, it’s fair to say, an area we’re well-versed in at Churchill Support Services. While our regional reports and data analysis (such as our exploration of the most dangerous areas of England & Wales) offer a sweeping view of the UK’s ongoing battle with crime, it’s our industry-specific insights that drill down into those specific issues.
The transport sector isn’t, despite its ubiquity and cruciality, immune from the devastating impacts of crime. In fact, the last year alone saw an estimated 5,373 instances of cargo theft, equating to an estimated £68 million worth of loss or shrinkage, according to the latest figures from the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS).
That’s just reported incidents, with the actual cost thought to be much higher. There have been reports of individual thefts amounting to over a million pounds, and the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) place the wider cost to the UK’s economy at an eye-watering £420 million.
That shows no sign of slowing, either. In Cambridgeshire alone – home to an array of busy A roads and the M11 motorway – there was a shocking 380% rise in the number of thefts from HGVs and large transport vehicles. That data also found that approximately 46% of those thefts happened in laybys or on the streets, while an equally worrying 27% happened in service stations on the county’s road network.
It’s not localised to the UK’s roads and counties, either. Major importers across European economic powerhouses like Germany (2,749), France (1,207) and Sweden (1,049) also saw concerning levels of cargo theft, according to data analysis from Trans.info.
While these figures naturally make for concerning reading, they’re just one aspect of a multi-faceted and often difficult-to-define spate of crime. Cargo theft, while undoubtedly a major cost sink for transportation firms, is just one of myriad issues facing the transport sector.
The British Transport Police, for instance, publish statistics surrounding criminality on our rail and bus networks, with the latest year of data uncovering 79,607 separate offences – one every 6 minutes. The lion’s share of those are accounted for by theft offences, perhaps unsurprisingly.
Port towns and cities (such as Felixstowe and Blackpool) see spikes in their rates of theft, too, with major shipping regions proving a hotspot for criminals. Data compiled by retail publication The Grocer pinpointed criminal hotspots in some of the country’s biggest coastal areas, with thieves opting to target busy docklands and shipping containers far before they leave that initial drop-off point.
This only scratches the surface, however, and many of the issues that stem from theft in the transport sector occur outside of those data points.
While the fiscal impacts of crime in the transportation and haulage industry are undeniably huge, the ripple effects of those incidents are often just as shocking. That’s especially true of those who are victims of the crime – transport drivers, workers and even distribution staff all feel the strain.
In a BBC exposé from July of this year, several drivers came forward to share their experiences with brazen thieves. A lack of sleep was just one of a range of psychological effects that the rise in cargo thefts had on those on the front line, with some opting to leave the trade altogether, or having to take time away to properly recover from what’s often a traumatic experience.
That in turn is affecting recruitment and staff retention. Perhaps understandably so – drivers are naturally concerned for their safety, as are those working in warehouses and processing facilities, and our transport sector is suffering because of it. Understaffing leads to countless problems, and can even bleed into other aspects, such as compliance and health and safety.
Sleepless nights and staffing issues aside, there’s also the effect it has on supply chains. With a growing population, and customer demands returning to their usual soaring heights, thefts can have massive impacts further down the line.
There’s a wide range of products targeted, from the usual suspects like alcoholic beverages and perfumes to less-expected items like olive oil and meats. That tracks, though – our recent report on the most stolen items from supermarkets found startlingly similar trends in what’s being stolen, as well as why.
A cost of living crisis, coupled with clamouring demands from customers, and a changing environment that often forefronts the immediacy of next-day delivery services, all combine to create a “perfect storm” for those in the transport industry. That – and the increasing prevalence of organised crime groups (OCGs) on our streets – show the wide-reach ripple effect of crime, and the urgent need for effective security in transport security.
These are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the risks facing the security of our much-loved transport industry. Let’s break down the key pressure points for those in the heart of the sector.
We’ve distilled the main issues facing our hauliers and transport businesses down to just 5 key areas, and what they might mean going forward.
This is an area we’ve already covered in depth with our above sections, but suffice it to say that theft is the most concerning issue that the transport sector faces. Conservative estimates from industry insiders say that the overall cost of cargo theft could be as much as £650 million – ten times higher than the figures reported.
Statistics from The Grocer explore that in more depth, finding that cargo theft is far from confined to our roads, laybys, and service stations. Theft from the vehicles themselves is thought to only account for an estimated 20% of all statistics across the sector, with around 12.8% of those happening directly from the container or trailer itself.
Thefts from the facilities themselves – including warehouses, manufacturing and production plants, and corporate offices – take the lion’s share at 26%, alongside an additional 7.5% that are classified as the theft of parts, cash or belongings. It’s shocking reading, as the data below exemplifies:
While we’d often associate hijackings with films and TV shows, they’re far more common in the UK than you might originally think. As the data we’ve compiled above indicates, there were around 913 hijacking incidents in the last year alone – more than 2 every day.
While thieves are often intent on stealing goods or products – as so often dominate the headlines – it’s equally true that the UK is facing an epidemic of raw material (especially metal) theft. It’s an incident that goes largely unpunished, as figures from the APPG for Metal, Stone & Heritage crime show.
Despite an eye-watering estimated cost of half a billion pounds to the UK economy every year, there was a comparatively low prosecution rate, with only 229 scrap metal dealers being brought to justice.
While historic stats show that we’re much better off relative to ten years ago, we’ve seen a recent upsurge, with the figures for 2022 and 2023 more than 9,000 incidents higher than what we’d seen for more than 8 years.
In the logistics and manufacturing industry alone, that’s thought to cost more than £140,000 per incident of theft, especially when losses of earnings, replacement stock, and disruption to the supply chain are also factored in.
Looking more broadly, the economic and fiscal impacts are even more widespread. That’s particularly true of the companies who provide the infrastructure and support for our transport network – disruption to public transport schedules, loss of earnings and even an uptick in criminality at our stations and terminals all stem from an interrupted workflow in the transport sector.
An issue that many don’t see unless they’re directly associated with the industry, unsecured or unmonitored parking is a major problem for those in the haulage industry and often ties closely with the aforementioned rates of cargo theft.
With huge road journeys ahead of them, adequate rest is an essential part of the transport sector. However, with limited safety and security features at many truck stops and HGV parking facilities across the country, there’s an inherent risk even to stopping for a short period.
That comes despite the British Parking Association’s Freight Accreditation, released back in 2022 with the sole purpose of combatting the UK’s rising rate of cargo theft. While accreditation for truck stops is ongoing, only 10 of the 50 assessed thus far have received that accolade.
Not only does that serve to highlight the need for more effective security at our stopping and rest areas, it’s also a damning indictment of the resources we have available for our hauliers. There’s hope on the horizon, though, with an initiative under the previous government that purports to provide further investment in the areas available for trucks and HGVs.
Combine that with the right security measures, delivered by the right security professionals, and you’ll soon be able to see a huge difference in the security of your transport business. Let’s break down what your haulage business needs to protect your staff, your premises and your drivers.
With a vast sea of security options on the market, we’re breaking down seven of the most crucial measures you can have in place, and what they mean for the kind of transport business you operate.
Arguably one of the most immediately recognisable and impactful security measures you can install at your site, physical security – in the form of security professionals and officers – is the epitome of safety in the transport sector.
There are multiple reasons behind that, but at their core, it comes down to the idea of deterrence and repelling criminals at the first hurdle. There’s little substitute for security personnel in that scenario – often augmented with CCTV, which we’ll discuss shortly – and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Studies have shown time and time again that a security presence on your site is an exceptional deterrent, but there’s a distinct pressure to move with the times, especially so in the transport sector. That’s where the truly innovative, forward-thinking security companies come to the fore, and do so with aplomb.
As part of the governmental guidance on transport security, there are several key points where a robust security presence is needed. That’s inclusive of:
There are of course multiple elements to your physical security presence, but suffice it to say that security officers in the transport sector are among the most multifaceted and knowledgeable across the security industry.
The flip side of that more immediately visible security presence, CCTV for the transport sector is as robust, comprehensive and intelligent as it has ever been. They’ve come a substantial way since the grainy images we’re all accustomed to, and now represent a renaissance in the way we secure our premises.
For the transport sector specifically, there’s a pressing need to invest in CCTV that matches the demands of your site. Take a train depot as a key example of that – warehousing, processes, machinery, staff areas and even your site’s outskirts all require that monitoring presence, and a visible one at that.
It’s the technological accompaniment to the security officers we discussed earlier and provides them with a potent tool in their arsenal to combat trespassers, criminals and unwanted presences on your transport premises.
Modern monitoring and surveillance solutions are now fully equipped with AI tech – something we’ve discussed in-depth with our recent insights into AI in security – that’s designed to identify threats, issue immediate alerts, and even prevent issues before they can ever occur. Suffice it to say then that there’s a precedent for AI in our CCTV.
That’s only set to move further forward, too. While more expansive premises may have their own, in-built monitoring facilities that security officers can use as part of their toolkit, modern CCTV also maintains an uninterrupted connection to a Control or Communications Centre off-site. This ensures the same level of consummate protection for transport businesses of all sizes and accommodates the often-stringent budgets of that industry.
While comprehensive deterrence and proactivity is an excellent way to ensure that there’s minimal disruption to your site, it can only go so far. Unauthorised visitors will find opportunities to circumvent those security measures, to access off-limits or confidential areas of your site. It’s unfortunately the nature of criminality – trespassers will constantly be seeking out ways to get to somewhere they shouldn’t.
This is where modernised access controls step into the limelight. While we’re all likely familiar with ID badges or key fobs, and many of us will have used them in our personal or professional capacity, they’re only the more modest options available to the modern consumer. They can also be stolen or duplicated, which raises its own set of concerns.
The cutting-edge for access controls in the transport sector lie in biometric scanning (think fingerprinting and retinal scanners) or facial recognition. Not only are these more secure in that they can be equipped to send out notifications when an unauthorised user tries to gain entry, but they’re also immune to the more conventional thefts of ID badges.
Of course, we’ve discussed at great lengths just how important a physical, monitorable presence is. It’s second to none when it comes to the more tangible aspects of securing your site, but other elements contribute towards their role in protecting your site, chief of which is the perimeter fencing you choose.
Already touched upon in our previous section, this is one of 5 key pointers outlined by the government’s guidance on securing the transport sector. Not only does it alleviate some of the pressure that will inevitably be placed upon your physical security measures, but it’s also an excellent way to understand the pressure points.
For instance, some sites (especially those that are larger, or are on the outskirts of a town or city) may have public footpaths nearby and therefore require fencing to provide adequate coverage. Equally, more remote sites rely upon their perimeter fences and barriers to offer that initial line of defence and keep trespassing at a minimum.
Modern perimeter fencing has evolved alongside the changing demands of the transport sector. Whether that’s in further additions to the barriers (such as underskirts on the barriers themselves) or additional fencing panels to plug any gaps, there’s scope to expand and reinforce the measures on your perimeter.
Often associated with dangerous environments, canine handlers are actually among the most adaptable measures you can put into place at your transport business. Consider an airport or major transportation hub, and the foot traffic it no doubt sees on a daily basis. Canines offer that reassuring yet dominant presence and serve to augment your security officers.
There’s also the opportunity to expand their scope with additional capabilities. Detection canines (such as sniffer dogs that can root out drugs, explosives or other illegal items) serve to not only provide that stalwart presence but to also identify any potential threats to your premises, people and property.
You might also opt to deploy canines as part of an existing security measure we’ve discussed, such as augmenting the routine patrols your security officers perform, or as part of the personnel that man your gatehouse. This can help nip any issues with illegal substances in the bud, and keep your site comprehensively secure.
Canine handlers are also completely self-contained. It’s a common misconception that there needs to be special accommodations in place for dog-handling officers, but that’s simply not true. No matter the size or scope of your site, canine handlers can fit around your unique demands.
While externally sourced security measures in the transport sector are essential in ensuring your site stays safe and secure, the efforts you put into the procedures and risk assessments for your site are equally integral. That’s never truer than for the security of any business that deals with transportation or haulage.
Think about the amount of heavy machinery your staff members and visitors are likely to come into contact with. Even if it’s passengers at an airport or a tour of your haulier facility, there’s an inherent risk to the environment for everyone involved.
Your risk assessments should also extend to the security measures you put into place, too. While the leading security providers will often include this as part of your service, it never hurts to do some of the groundwork yourself, especially as you’ll have a comprehensive familiarity with the issues your site could present.
Of course, if you run a particularly sensitive facility (such as one that manufactures parts for aircraft, or that stores classified schematics or blueprints), this will already be something you’re well aware of. However, what you might not be as aware of is how important stringent vetting is as part of any business in the transport sector.
Although there’s less onus on you as the business owner to do this, you must consider it with the seriousness it warrants. That’s where the right security company shines and can alleviate the pressures associated with effective and properly vetted security in the transport sector.
Take Churchill Support Services as a glimmering example of that. Our standardised vetting procedures already identify any possible issues far before they become more present, but that’s not always enough. Take airports and other transport hubs for instance – they need more stringent checks in place.
We’re also able to adapt to that, offering officers that have full BS:7858 vetting – a notoriously severe process that allows for only the cream of the crop, and truly trustworthy officers, to pass through. That’s not all we can offer, though.
While we’ve opted to paint the difficulties facing security in the transportation sector in quite a harsh light here, it’s only because it warrants it. Your business deserves only the best, and that’s exactly what Churchill Support Services offer – we’re the UK’s #1 security company for a reason.
With our proven track record of delivering bespoke solutions time and again, for businesses across the full gamete of sectors we have in Britain, you’re consistently in safe hands with Churchill.
From custom-built risk assessments and complimentary security audits for large and small transport businesses to synergistic solutions that are designed to perfectly complement your site and its operations, it’s all part and parcel of partnering with the industry leaders.
Get in touch today to discuss your options in much more detail, and to receive your free, no-obligation quotation.
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