UK Freight Crime Prevention: What Hauliers Should Review After the Latest Figures

Recent figures from the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service show why UK freight crime prevention remains a live operational issue for hauliers. Vehicle, trailer and cargo theft can create losses well beyond the value of the goods, including damage, delays, missed deliveries and disruption to cash flow.

 

What do the latest figures tell operators?

NaVCIS reports that it processed 3,424 freight-crime notifications from UK police services and industry partners during 2025. The recorded cost-price loss value was £65 million.

The figures also show the wider scale of the response. NaVCIS dealt with 1,373 enquiries, supported more than 40 intelligence-led police operations and was notified of 265 related arrests.

These figures do not represent every incident. Freight crime is not recorded under one single Home Office crime category, and under-reporting can make the national picture difficult to measure. Even so, the available data is enough to show that theft from commercial vehicles is a business risk rather than an occasional inconvenience.

 

Prevention starts before the vehicle leaves the depot

Security decisions should form part of route and load planning, not be left entirely to the driver at the end of a shift.

 

Before accepting a job, consider:

• Whether the cargo is particularly attractive to thieves.
• Which parking and rest locations are suitable for the route.
• Whether the trailer, load and seals can be checked at planned points.
• How drivers will report suspicious activity or an attempted theft.
• Whether subcontractors follow the same security expectations.
• What telematics, tracking or alarm information will be available after an incident.

 

Drivers also need realistic instructions. A procedure that expects someone to confront offenders or continue a journey when they feel unsafe may create a different risk. The aim should be to protect people first, then preserve evidence and report the incident promptly.

Security is usually strongest when physical measures, driver awareness, route planning, secure parking and technology work together. No individual device or procedure removes the risk completely.

 

What happens when a theft becomes an insurance claim?

The vehicle, the goods and the liability arising from the transport contract may sit under different parts of an insurance programme.

HGV and Truck Insurance may address risks connected with the vehicle and its use. Goods in transit and liability cover may address liability for goods carried for a customer. The exact response depends on the policy wording, limits, conditions and circumstances.

Points worth checking include:

• Whether the value and type of goods being carried are within the policy limits.
• Whether unattended vehicle, parking or security conditions apply.
• Whether the contract makes the carrier responsible for a wider loss than the policy covers.
• Whether theft from a trailer, vehicle or depot is treated differently.
• Whether delay, business interruption or consequential losses are insured at all.
• What records must be kept after an incident.

After a theft, preserve the police crime reference, vehicle and trailer details, delivery records, photographs, seal information, telematics data and communications with the customer. Good evidence does not guarantee a claim outcome, but it can help the insurer understand what happened.

A security review should also include driver welfare. Freight crime can affect confidence, retention and willingness to take particular routes. Procedures should make it clear who drivers contact and what support is available after an incident.

For a haulier, the practical question is whether the security plan and insurance programme still match the loads, routes and contracts being accepted today.

Ratcliffes can discuss goods-in-transit, vehicle and liability arrangements for transport businesses. Call 01242 544544 to talk through the areas worth reviewing, with cover subject to the relevant policy terms and insurer criteria.

 

Sources

• NaVCIS Freight, freight-crime data and guidance
• Transport Operator, “Tackling CV crime with a multi-layered security approach”, 13 September 2026