Industry News
BIFA supports tougher action on freight crime Call to action
Police issue new advice on abnormal loads The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), in collaboration with the RHA’s Abnormal Loads Group (ALG), released new national guidance in June to support police forces in the management of abnormal load movements across the UK. The guidance marks a significant step forward in improving coordination, transparency and efficiency for both law enforcement and the transport industry, and can be accessed at www.npcc.police.uk/SysSite Assets/media/downloads/p ublications/publications- log/operations/2025/npcc- abnormal-load-guidance- 2025.pdf This landmark document aims to create a more predictable operating environment for the movement of abnormal loads, while also supporting the operational requirements of police forces. Key highlights in the new NPCC guidance include: • 30-day window acceptance, • Clarification on embargoes, • Targeted embargo approach, • Police escorts and legal authority. BIFA feels that this new guidance will be of assistance to Members who move abnormal loads and project cargoes, and encourages them to access and utilise the guidance during the planning stages. The NPCC says the guidance will be subject to ongoing review and amendment, so that it remains fit for purpose. The first review will take place 12 months after publication.
Freight crime costs the transport industry a great deal of money, with the Road Haulage Association (RHA) stating that losses totalled more than £1 billion in 2020. It is highly disruptive, impacting supply chains and businesses and driving up costs which, in part at least, are passed on to consumers. For business there are significant issues impacting relationships, potential reputational damage and the administrative cost of managing the loss, including the insurance claim. Particularly if there is violence against the driver during the crime, there is an impact on welfare. Overall this creates a negative
BIFA is encouraging Members to write to their MP to support this Bill, which is due to have its second reading in the House of Commons on 12 September. To fi nd your local MP, please go to https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP. A draft letter template for Members to complete is available to download from HERE. BIFA and the RHA are asking government for the following actions to counter the growing menace of freight crime: • A dedicated crime code for freight crime, • Tougher sentencing for offenders, • Government funding for NaVCIS, the police unit currently funded by our industry.
impression of the sector. In conjunction with the RHA, BIFA has been actively supporting The Rt Hon Rachel Taylor’s Freight Crime Bill,
which aims to make provision about the recording and investigation of freight crime to better understand the full extent of the issue.
Generation Logistics celebrates progress
Carl Hobbis and Natalie Pitts represented BIFA at the 2025 Generation Logistics parliamentary reception in London, celebrating year three of the campaign. It was an insightful event, hosted by Rachel Taylor MP (Chair of the APPG on Freight and Logistics), with Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood MP also speaking. During the reception, Generation Logistics Ambassadors Grace Brown, Archie Combellack and Ellie Musgrave (pictured right) shared the different paths they have taken to join the industry and the opportunities and achievements they have gained so far. What was clear from listening to those individuals is that the campaign is achieving what it set out to do: attract new talent to the sector and provide new career opportunities with some of the world’s biggest employers. BIFA is proud to be an official partner of Generation
Logistics and supports the campaign’s aims in line with its own aspirations of promoting the industry and encouraging others to consider logistics as a career path of choice. We would like to thank the Generation Logistics team for inviting BIFA to attend this prestigious event.
6 | August 2025
www.bifa.org
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker