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This article was co-authored by Mallory Pradel-Weisz, litigation assistant.
January 2026 saw multiple parliamentary questions raised around tackling, monitoring, assessing and the impact of freight crime. There were also questions raised on the increase in haulage costs, rising insolvencies in road freight transport companies and support needed to encourage young people to pursue careers in the logistics sector – all of which are impacted by rising levels of freight crime.
Road haulage is the glue that holds the United Kingdom’s economy together with most of the goods in the UK circulating via road haulage. Cargo theft in transit is a constant drain on the finances of the haulage sector, with theft related losses estimated to reach £500 million per year. These losses are most often born by the hauliers and ultimately contribute to the rising rates of insolvency in the industry.
Drivers’ safety
Beyond the financial strains that cargo theft puts on haulage companies, the security of lorry drivers must also be considered. More instances of theft means increased risks for drivers to be confronted with stressful situations, often with a threats to their lives. It is not surprising that the haulage industry has suffered significant driver shortage in recent years. Many of those in the industry are choosing to abandon their careers for their own safety, and prospective drivers being driven away by the risk.
Transport Focus (an independent watchdog for transport users) is two years into a three year programme surveying lorry drivers. The focus of their programme is around service areas and roadside facilities, and security continues to be raised as a critical concern.
In the year two results, there was a strong link between how secure the drivers felt and their ability to rest; if they perceived their vehicle security to be good, this results in a higher ability to rest and sleep.
The logistics sector and its insurers relies on skilful, well rested drivers to ensure timely deliveries, and minimal disruption and damage.
Parliamentary priority
One of the questions put to the Home Office in January was what methods is law enforcement using to monitor and assess the levels of freight thefts and what measures are being taken to tackle them.
It is therefore encouraging that this question was put to Parliament, and answered promptly. The Secretary of State for the Home Department indicated that measures to revamp the monitoring of cargo theft are on the way. Currently, crimes involving the cargo theft are recorded by the law enforcement within broader vehicle-related theft categories. This prevents the accurate monitoring of trends and the adoption of appropriate measures to combat them. Law enforcement is now testing a pilot crime recording system which officers can use to indicate that the crime they are investigating is freight crime.
The Home Department is working with Opal, the police’s national intelligence unit focused on serious organised acquisitive crime, and the National Vehicle Intelligence Service to roll out appropriate measures. Hopefully, better monitoring will lead to the adoption of better methods to combat freight crime and alleviate this pressure from the industry.
Comment
As with any sector battling an increase in crime, the result is an increase in insurance claims – whether that be under cargo policies for the goods that are the subject of crime, or liability policies where insureds are being pursued by third parties for loss or damage to goods. The result is, however, the same. Increased crime, resulting in increased insurance claims, which ultimately will lead to increased premiums.
The efforts of the Home Office is needed more than ever and, for some, cannot come quick enough.
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United Kingdom