Hire Industry Crime Assistance

Hire Association Europe has been working with industry partners to produce user-friendly guidance on identifying and preventing fraud. There is also a clear document on reporting stolen equipment.

Through the Combined Industries Theft Solutions (CITS), CPA, HAE EHA, and IPAF, have worked closely with the NCATT (National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team) specialist police unit; to create a checklist which companies can adopt to tackle the problem of fraud perpetrated by Organised Criminal Groups (OCGs).

The checklist will benefit both Hire Desk personnel, and their colleagues, as well as delivery drivers to encourage greater vigilance and a confident response to fraud risks.

Central to our collective response is the need for photographic evidence when an asset is handed over and confidence to challenge requests to hire or deliver where things ‘simply do not look right’.

Alongside the checklists, we also want our members to take note of the latest CITS advice on reporting stolen assets. NCATT, and other police forces rely on good record keeping – serial numbers rather than fleet numbers, as well as other key identifiers on the stolen plant and equipment. A lack of key information delays the police in identifying an item of plant. So, any discrepancies are exploited by criminals with the police handing back items to the people who have probably stolen them.