Institute of Couriers, express final mile, security group

The IOC security group meets virtually most months of the year, by nature of security the group meetings are not recorded, minutes are not formal and created in a narrative format. News flash items are created, an example of the agenda meeting below. key members of their security team to attend the group. Police liaison is led by Superintendent Patrick Holdaway, City of London Police. The group chair is Andy Magromallis from Huboo Logistics.

Look back at launching the group, aims, goals and objectives

The Institute of Courier launched a dedicated security group in earl 2021 to engage exchange of knowledge in final mile to combat crime and prevent criminality in final mile. Business crime has moved during COVID & operators are adapting best practice. Keeping ahead of crime that is moving on-line, preventing criminality is the focus of the founding group, chair, Andy Magromallis who leads recruitment to the new sub group of the IOC. The IOC is the government stakeholder group for the final mile, last mile, express courier sector.

IOC security group chair, Andy Magromallis Huboo Logistics

Security Group goals are:-

Obtain a complete picture of the threats
Develop useful practical solutions to the threats
Identify vulnerabilities
Mitigate vulnerabilities
Increase Police awareness of express courier crime
Increase Police response to express courier crime
Promote a high standard of response from Police to courier crime

The opening meeting key discussion points Feb 2021

This group is about securing our sector. Making delivery safer.
Greatest point of risk is last ten yards, even last ten feet. Opportunity snatch and grab is a problem.
Leaving keys in vehicles is proving a recuring challenge
There has been depot property targeted
How could the sector share names of excluded drivers from one express company to another.
Romanian rolls, Drilling offences popping locks,
Moving away from theft of motor vehicles to identifying theft of parcels and goods.
Working towards reporting theft of mail as a better counting rule.
Issues around location of reporting theft, from the vehicle depot or where it was delivering.
‘Take a look at the victims charter, senior office review.’

Help our sector define hot-spots and data for mail and parcel crime

Theft of mail & parcel should not be reported as vehicle crime

‘step change for express sector to form true picture of parcel theft’

Andy Magromallis, Huboo, chair of IOC security group, ‘The IOC Security Group identified in the early stages of its evolution, that with the increased volume of parcel deliveries and a reduction in retail outlets being open due to the Covid lockdown, that the threats against delivery drivers could increase. With recent reports from West Midlands Police of circa 300 over a short period of time, it is now clear that is the case. The change of incident recording via the Home Office, led by Chief Inspector Patrick Holdaway only this month, will mean that this nature of crime can be better identified so that action can be taken to support our front line workers.’ IOC launched the news last week that data on theft of parcels from a vehicle is recorded under motor-vehicle numbers, it’s almost impossible to separate the data and identify the true scale of parcel theft in express courier.

To help the police get a true picture of mail and parcel theft crimes, you should report to, the police call taker ‘mail and parcel theft’ and prompt to identify the right crime to record it against i.e. a theft of mail and parcel, its not just a theft from motor vehicle. Help the sector get the data recognised on these crimes.

Chief Inspector Patrick Holdaway was instrumental in this work with the IOC security group, he comments, 'I'm pleased that we have been able to secure an amendment to the crime counting rules, which reflects the importance of the courier sector. Crime should always be reported to the police as it helps us understand the true extent of the problem, which in turn helps us develop the appropriate response to target offenders and protect businesses’

Chair of the IOC security group, Andy Magromallis welcomed the news for the sector, ‘this is a significant change by the government in the way theft of parcels is recorded nationally and will allow Law Enforcement and the industry to finally demonstrate the scale of the problem which will lead to a better investigatory response from Police and the industry implementing target hardening measures appropriate to the risk.’ Further, Andy Magromallis, ‘"With anything, it is critical to understand the size and scale of the issue, the hot spots and areas of focus. The ability for the crime to be recorded under the correct Home Office code will assist hugely in the industry working towards minimising and mitigating crime, both towards our organisations and our people."