SPOA tackles plant and fuel theft
24 May 2023
The Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) has partnered with the Scottish Partnership Against Acquisitive Crime (SPAACE) to tackle plant and fuel theft across Scotland.
Callum Mackintosh, President of the SPOA, launched the first crime prevention campaign from SPAACE in Edinburgh on 22nd May in a Police Scotland liveried JCB 3CX. Partners of SPAACE, including Police Scotland, also attended the event.
The backhoe loader, loaned by SPOA member and its Scottish dealer Scot JCB, will tour Scotland over the next 12 months to raise awareness of plant and fuel theft, the importance of reporting it and measures to prevent it.
The machine will be seen at numerous events in the coming months, including the Drymen Show, the Royal Highland Show, Black Isle Show, Orkney County Show and Blair Horse Trials. Staff from Police Scotland will be on hand to give advice.
Callum Mackintosh, who is pictured above with Carly Bryce, Police Sergeant from the National Rural and Acquisitive Crime Unit, said: “The SPOA is extremely proud to represent the plant and construction industry in SPAACE. The theft of plant and fuel is an increasing problem for our members and unfortunately it often goes unreported. It is estimated that this theft totals £800m worth of losses to the industry each year and we need to play our part in tackling this crime.
“We know that there are serious organised crime networks behind plant theft – this is not an opportunistic crime. If the theft goes unreported it makes it very difficult for police to catch the criminals or even to spot trends and alert plant owners in certain areas to be vigilant, as we know that these criminal gangs tend to move from one area of Scotland to another.”
SPAACE is a multi-agency partnership involving key organisations collectively working to tackle acquisitive crime, which is defined as high volume crime often targeting the most vulnerable.
The SPOA, along with the other partners in SPAACE – including Crimestoppers, HM Revenue & Customs, Neighbourhood Watch Scotland, Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (PCPI), Police Scotland, Retailers Against Crime, SCOTTS Trading Standards, Scottish Government, Take Five To Stop Fraud, Trading Standards Scotland and Secured by Design – brings together a range of expertise to tackle acquisitive crime with the joint aim of reducing the risks communities face from the crime as well as the associated financial loss.
Police Scotland’s Detective Superintendent Andrew Patrick, Acquisitive Crime Lead, said that plant owners can sign up to Construction Watch Scotland to receive alerts about local crimes and guidance on protecting tools, equipment and plant. The SPOA also has advice on theft on its website which can be viewed here.
