TruckWatch is a freight crime reduction initiative that has operated in South Yorkshire since 1997 through a partnership between South Yorkshire Police, the Road Haulage Association and People United Against Crime, a charity based in Sheffield.
It is the largest and most active scheme of its kind in England and funding from Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency, has allowed the highly rated TruckWatch scheme to become a regional movement – Yorkshire and Humber TruckWatch.
Yorkshire and Humber TruckWatch will work in partnership with the four police forces in the region: South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and Humberside. Other stakeholders include haulage companies, the Road Haulage Association, and Crimestoppers.
TruckWatch is a membership scheme and one of the key activities is to notify members of stolen vehicles and loads following a 999 call to the police.
Because of its nature, freight crime is borderless. A vehicle or load stolen in West Yorkshire might be driven to Merseyside or the West Midlands for distribution of the load or disposal of the vehicle. The extended coverage provided by a regional TruckWatch means there is a much wider network of members and a greater chance of members spotting travelling criminals whilst they are in the region.
The key aims of TruckWatch are to:
- Reduce the number of freight crime incidents taking place in the Yorkshire and Humber region
- Maintain an effective communication network for TruckWatch members
- Introduce a range of complementary crime reduction measures which address the wider security issues faced by the freight transport sector
- Achieve a collaborative crime reduction initiative that is self sustaining
