Munich Re Specialty is proud to announce a strategic partnership with National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) to support their ongoing efforts in tackling cargo and freight crime in the UK.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in our commitment to safeguarding cargo and ensuring the security of supply chains. Entirely funded by industry, NaVCIS are renowned for their expertise in intelligence and proactive crime prevention and will continue to play a pivotal role in fortifying the defence against the rising challenges of cargo theft.

The movement of freight and cargo is crucial to our national infrastructure. Blockages or thefts in the supply chain can have a significant impact. Highly desirable cargo is regularly targeted by organised criminal gangs, with theft costing buyers, sellers, and movers of goods millions of pounds every year. Data from NaVCIS shows that 80% of cargo crime reported to them in 2023 was theft of goods directly from a vehicle, mostly through curtain slashes (30% of offences) or padlock cuts (24% of offences). 

With over 40 years of underwriting and risk management expertise, we have identified NaVCIS as a highly valued partner to the UK freight and haulage industry. NaVCIS Freight gathers and analyses national cargo crime data and intelligence, looking for trends and identifying tactics to support cross-border investigations that pursue offenders and prevent criminal efforts in a proactive manner. During 2023, NaVCIS received more than 600 calls for service from the UK haulage sector and assisted with 325 arrests for UK cargo theft related offences and supported 48 cargo crime policing operations.

Cargo and Freight Underwriting Manager, Dean Gribben, comments on the partnership:

"Placing our customers at the heart of our thinking is a core part of our values. NaVCIS have an essential role in the safeguarding of our policyholders’ property while it moves through the supply chain, providing invaluable intelligence and trending methods of attack to the cargo and freight industry. Our partnership will directly empower the NaVCIS teams to continue their vital work."

DCI Brett Mallon, Head of National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), provides his comments:

“Freight crime is committed by clever and organised criminals across the world and the UK is no exception - however the UK is exceptional in its fight back. NaVCIS, together with industry partners such as Munich Re Specialty, keep UK police and government informed with current and detailed information and strategic options. Thanks to this partnership approach we see significant police resources and central funds devoted to combatting freight crime, with real and tangible effects. 

"The strategic partnership with Munich Re Specialty will further strengthen our response, tie police activity with industry concerns and help us support and protect the sector. I wish to thank our friends at Munich Re Specialty for their continued support and I invite everyone in the UK haulage and freight industry to find out more by visiting our NaVCIS website.”

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