Under the renewed agreement, BIFA will provide financial support to NaVCIS, which focuses on preventing and investigating freight-related crime. In exchange, NaVCIS will supply regular intelligence briefings to BIFA on crime trends, new tactics used by offenders, and hotspot areas for truck theft.
The intelligence will be distributed to BIFA’s corporate members, enabling freight forwarders and logistics companies to strengthen on-the-ground security measures.
“Freight crime is a growing concern for our industry, and collaboration is key to tackling it effectively,” said BIFA Director General Steve Parker.
NaVCIS Freight, a specialised unit within the national police service, plays a central role in mapping criminal patterns and supporting targeted investigations. The team relies heavily on funding from industry stakeholders like BIFA to continue its work.
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BIFA also plans to raise awareness of NaVCIS’s activities through a feature-length episode of BIFA TV, which will include case studies filmed at Beaconsfield services in Buckinghamshire and the Red Lion truck stop in Northampton.
Freight crime, particularly cargo theft from parked vehicles, continues to pose a significant risk to supply chain resilience in the UK, with industry groups increasingly calling for improved coordination between public and private sectors.
Freight crime in numbers
Freight crime caused an estimated £111.5 million in losses in 2024, up nearly two-thirds compared to the previous year, despite a decline in the number of reported incidents, according to NaVCIS data.
A total of 4,879 thefts were recorded in 2024, down from 5,370 in 2023. However, the rising financial impact suggests criminals are targeting higher-value loads. Since 2020, total reported losses have exceeded £1 billion.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) attributes the shift to more organised and intelligence-led operations, often targeting lorries parked in poorly secured locations such as laybys and industrial estates.
While some improvements have been observed at formal truckstops, industry leaders say more needs to be done. The APPG for Freight and Logistics has proposed measures including increased secure parking provision, better coordination with police forces, and a dedicated freight crime reporting code to improve data accuracy.
