DON'T BE A TOSSER CAMPAIGN! - Although not a security issue, we are nonetheless urging truck drivers to take notice of a campaign that has been launched in Suffolk asking that the practice of hurling bottles of urine out of the cab when leaving or entering the Port of Felixstowe on the A14 stop.Paul Davey, spokesman for Port of Felixstowe said: "We've made sure that bins and other amenities are at the entrance to the port. "It's always difficult with any sort of behavioural change of habits that have become engrained, but you have to keep plugging away at it. "It's not an excuse for throwing them out of the cab window that you don't know where the bins are." John Howells, RHA Regional Director, said: "It is effectively anti-social behaviour and it shouldn't be going on and it's something drivers' shouldn't be doing." While not condoning the litter problem, Mr Howells said there was a lack of places to stop for lorry drivers. "I can pass the message on that we accept sometimes you have to wee in a bottle because of lack of facilities, but, if you do, don't throw it out of the window!," he said.

OPERATION CATCHER - Advice from the Metropolitan Police to companies operating vehicles within the M25 The Metropolitan Police area is one of a number of regions within the United Kingdom that is experiencing a high level of deliberately induced road collisions.

Organised crime groups are targeting companies who operate vehicle fleets within the M25 area by deliberately causing collisions in order to defraud their insurers. Operation Catcher is a Metropolitan Police initiative, intended to identify an offence when it happens, prosecute the offenders and, as a result, reduce the incidence of this type of crime.

WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF AN INDUCED COLLISION? The criminals will use two cars to target their victim. These cars will get ahead of the company vehicle in steady moving traffic, the first will then brake hard or make an unexpected manoeuvre. This will cause the second car to brake hard (often using the handbrake to avoid alerting the intended victim) and this will usually result in a collision. The first car will make off while the second now damaged car will stop. The occupants will make a point of blaming the car that has made off and appear to sympathise with the victim....you through your driver! The Metropolitan Police allege that the criminals are most frequently from the Asian community - Afghan, Bangladesh or Pakistani - not exclusively but we are told this is a common feature in London. There will often be at least three occupants in the car. 

Driver details are often already written down and insurance and registration documents are carried in their car. The driver will speak English while the occupants will not. On hearing of this type of incident your first action should be to alert the Metropolitan Police on the non-emergency number of 0300 121 1212 and state that you believe that your vehicle may have been involved in a deliberately induced collision - ensure that you get the registration number shown on the other vehicle involved. You must tell the operator that you need an OPERATION CATCHER response. The sooner you call through the more time the authorities have to act. Do NOT inform the other vehicle occupants that you have called the Police. Alert your drivers to this type of incident and ensure they know to get as much information as possible and make a mental note of the look and identifying features of the driver. It is important that the Police can be definitely shown who was actually driving when the incident occured. 

Get the driver to exchange details, but advice him to take his time to allow the authorities to get there before the other party leave. If you have any qusetions about this initiative please contact the Road Crime Intelligence Unit of 0207 161 1011 (Monday to Friday) and tell them that you got initial information through the Suffolk Truckwatch.

KEEP IT LOCKED - KEEP IT SAFE The latest available statistics show that over 1,800 trucks are stolen in the UK annually and almost 50% of them are never recovered. In addition, TruckPol records over 3,500 incidents of load theft crime each year, with a combined value of £84.5 million. The average loss per crime now stands at over £22,500.Professional criminals and opportunist thieves alike will target your trucks and the loads they carry, but there is a lot that you can do can do to prevent thefts and reduce the chance of being a victim of crime. Make sure all your drivers' follow these basic procedures every time they are out on the road or away from base:

• Be alert to the threat of hi-jack. Your truck is your livelihood and if it's stolen you might find yourself out of a job! Plan your route in advance wherever possible.
• Avoid following regular routes and stopping places. Criminals observe drivers' and vehicles to build up information about regular routes and lorry movements.void discussing what you are carrying with other companies drivers' and our customers.
• Do not leave the keys in the ignition. Nearly 50% of stolen vehicles are stolen simply because the driver leaves the key in when 'nipping outside'. Always lock the vehicle and take the keys with you, even if you are only walking over to a weighbridge or reception area, however short a time it may take. It takes a matter of seconds for a thief to climb in the cab, lock the door and drive your vehicle away. What's more, if the keys have been left in the ignition, the company insurance may be invalidated.
• Get into the habit of locking your cab when driving, as well as when you get out. The most common opportunist theft is stealing items from vehicles that are queueing in city traffic. With cars the thief will smash a window if the door is locked, but you're high up, so they will go for unlocked passenger doors and then take whatever they can get their hands on before you can stop them! Think where you store your personal kit, including telephones, wallets and other personal effects you need with you.
• Protect your identity, including documents and company issued clothing. Thieves use shipping orders, consignment notes and company paperwork along with high visibility clothing to impersonate you and collect loads.
• Don't be afraid to refuse to open the door if someone stops you out on the road. Bona-fide Police and VOSA officers will have no problem waiting at the roadside while you use your mobile phone to confirm they are who they say they are. Last year an amount of VOSA uniforms were stolen, so beware! At the moment VOSA 'stopper' officers only use Ford Galaxy vehicles, with registration numbers beginning with 'EU' as well as having clear markings and signage to stop or request vehicles to follow them to a weighbridge. IF IN DOUBT KEEP YOUR CAB LOCKED AND PHONE IN