Cargo theft and driver assaults remain a growing threat across the UK’s road haulage sector.
Despite government recognition of the problem, a chronic shortage of secure parking and poor facilities continues to force many drivers to rest in unsafe areas. As freight crime rises, industry experts are calling for new procedures and technologies to protect both people and goods.
When ‘safe parking’ isn’t safe: the scale of freight theft in Britain
A Department for Transport–commissioned report led by TT Club and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) revealed that 5,373 freight crimes were recorded in 2023 across the UK, with losses totalling an estimated £68 million.
Nearly a third (32%) of these thefts occurred while trucks were parked in supposedly safe facilities.
The study, carried out through the government’s Task and Finish Group, identified the ten most crime-prone lorry parks over the past four years, mainly in the South East and the Midlands. According to the report, criminals were not drawn to particular locations but to sites with weak security and easy access.
Specialist Design Out Crime police officers inspected these sites and found recurring problems: inadequate fencing, poor lighting, limited CCTV coverage and a lack of on-site patrols. Their recommendations included strong perimeter fences, segregation from passenger vehicles, controlled access, 24-hour surveillance and improved lighting.
In response, the Department for Transport said it recognised “the need to provide all HGV drivers with access to appropriate facilities … not just to attract new drivers to the profession, but to support the health and wellbeing of those already in the sector”.
The Freight Crime Bill: a long-awaited step towards accountability
A new Freight Crime Bill, introduced to Parliament in March 2025 by Labour MP Rachel Taylor, aims to create a separate offence category for freight theft and improve the recording and investigation of organised cargo crime.
The proposal has been welcomed across the logistics sector, including by the Road Haulage Association and TT Club, which argue that existing crime codes fail to capture the scale of freight-related offences.
As of early November 2025, the Bill has not yet been enacted and remains at an early stage in the parliamentary process. Its Second Reading in the House of Commons is scheduled for 28 November 2025, although this date may still change depending on the parliamentary timetable.
Because it is a Private Member’s Bill, its progress will depend on cross-party support and available government time, but the debate itself has already raised awareness of the urgent need to strengthen law-enforcement responses to freight crime.
Too few spaces, too many risks: the road haulage system under strain
The call for action comes amid wider challenges for the UK road haulage industry.
A March 2025 analysis by Opus Business Advisory Group paints a picture of an overstretched and under-resourced sector.
According to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), there is a shortfall of around 11,000 HGV parking spaces nationwide. Utilisation rates average 83%, rising to 93% in some regions, leaving many drivers with no choice but to park in lay-bys or industrial estates.
Basic amenities such as toilets, showers and lighting are often lacking, heightening both safety risks and recruitment problems.
The driver shortage also remains severe: the RHA estimates a deficit of 50,000 drivers, while 55% of those currently in work are aged between 50 and 65.
Combined with tight margins and rising costs (the average cost of operating an HGV increased by 10% over the past year) many hauliers struggle to fund security improvements on their own.
Opus Business Advisory Group noted that most haulage firms operate on 2–3% profit margins, limiting their ability to invest in modern facilities, telematics or fleet renewal without external support.
What does ‘secure parking’ really mean?
The TT Club and NaVCIS report stressed that “security at the majority of lorry parking facilities in England is currently inadequate”.
It urged both government and industry to promote existing security certification standards so that operators and users understand what a truly safe site looks like.
Three recognised standards currently apply in the UK:
- TAPA Parking Security Requirements (PSR) – developed by the Transported Asset Protection Association
- EU Safe and Secure Truck Parking Areas (SSTPA) – adopted across Europe
- Park Mark Freight – managed by the British Parking Association under the Police Crime Prevention Initiative
The report recommended that the government adopt the European match-funding model, offering financial support to operators who achieve or commit to achieving these recognised standards.
Expanding the number of certified truck parks could help rebalance supply and demand, encouraging operators to invest in proper security.
Don’t wait for Westminster: practical safety steps on the road
Although policy changes are under way, many steps can already be taken by hauliers, freight forwarders and drivers to reduce risk.
For hauliers
- Plan routes around certified secure parking areas (PSR, SSTPA or Park Mark Freight).
- Use GPS tracking, telematics and geofencing to detect unauthorised stops or deviations.
- Include security requirements and parking standards in contracts with subcontractors and clients.
- Share incident data with police and NaVCIS to support hotspot mapping.
For freight forwarders
- Check the security credentials of hauliers and parking sites when arranging rest breaks or overnight stops.
- Build security expectations into service agreements.
- Use data analytics to schedule journeys efficiently, reducing time spent in unsecured locations.
- Promote cooperation across supply chains for better incident reporting and prevention.
For drivers
- Avoid isolated lay-bys and poorly lit areas wherever possible.
- Park with rear doors against a wall or barrier to make access harder for thieves.
- Keep communications open with dispatch teams and share live location data.
- Report suspicious activity immediately using NaVCIS or local police channels.
- Make use of dashcams and panic alarms, if allowed by company policy.
- Take part in security awareness training to identify risks early.
Until real change arrives, vigilance remains the best defence
With the Freight Crime Bill still progressing through Parliament and collaboration continuing between the Department for Transport, NaVCIS and industry stakeholders, the UK appears to be taking freight crime more seriously than ever.
However, progress will depend on funding, enforcement and awareness. The shortage of secure parking remains a structural weakness that criminals continue to exploit.
Until the network of certified truck parks expands, shared responsibility between hauliers, forwarders and drivers will remain the strongest line of defence.
