Change in rules has seen more
and more vehicles moved illegally through UK ports.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The
export of stolen vehicles from British docks represents a “massive
threat” to the finance and leasing industry, law enforcement
specialists have warned.
Vince Wise, ports officer for
Association of Chief Police Officers’ Vehicle Crime Intelligence
Service (AVCIS), said he has seen more and more vehicles subject to
finance and leasing agreements being moved illegally through the
nation’s ports in recent months.
A lack of regulation on export
procedures is making life easy for criminals wanting to sell stolen
cars overseas, he added.
The principal problem, Wise argued,
has been the decision by the EU to abolish ‘Designated Loaded
Points’ for shipping containers, which was made on the basis the
system restricted free trade.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData“When this system was dismantled”
Wise said, “nothing was put in place to prevent criminal abuse of
the process.
“Whereas before it was possible to
monitor what was put in containers, now it is possible from
criminals to load them wherever they want.”
At the moment, in AVCIS’s view,
there is very little to stop organised crime groups concealing
stolen or fraudulently acquired vehicles in shipping containers and
moving them out of the country for quick sale.
What’s more, because most of the
stolen vehicles being loaded into containers are high value, a high
proportion of them are on finance and leasing agreements.
Meanwhile insurance companies, said
Wise, “are finding more and more reasons to avoid paying out on
vehicles that disappear”.
AVCIS believes if competing
businesses shared more information regarding the types and numbers
of vehicles stolen and the details of recoveries abroad, police
could more effectively anticipate criminal activity at the
docks.
“This is a massive threat to anyone
with vehicles on their books, and no one seems to want to take
ownership of the problem,” said Wise.
“To tackle this we need to know
what’s being lost, what’s being found, and we need to know it as
soon as it happens.
“We have a huge opportunity to intercept these vehicles, but
what is holding us back is a serious lack of communication between
large companies in the finance world.”
