by Holly Tribe
Leading organisations in the caravan industry have joined forces to establish a new group to fight caravan related crime and promote safety and security to caravanners.
The Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (ACVIS) and the National Caravan Council (NCC) have partnered with the UK’s two major consumer clubs: the Camping and Caravanning Club and the Caravan Club to form the Caravan Safety and Security Group (CSSG).
Partners of the CSSG will facilitate the development of anti-theft campaigns, working with government enforcement agencies along with commercial and member organisations to reduce motorhome and caravan crime.
Committee Chairman and Director General of The Camping and Caravanning Club, Robert Louden, explained the official joining of the various partners is expected to be hugely beneficial to the caravan community as a whole.
He said: “The Club is delighted to be a part of the CSSG and we are looking forward to collaborating with other leading industry organisations to help support this safety and security initiative in the caravan leisure business.”
Supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACVIS), the CSSG was officially launched at the Caravan and Motorhome 2010, but has been operating unofficially for eighteen months. Last year successfully saw £505,000 worth of caravans recovered by law enforcement agencies.
AVCIS consultant, Tim Booth, explained: “We have seen a substantial reduction in the thefts of caravans from around 5,000 per year in the late 1990’s to 1,400 last year, while the industry was working together informally.
“CSSG establishes a more formal partnership that will not only look at theft and security issues but also at safety for the consumer.”
More information about the CSSG can be found online at www.cssginfo.co.uk.
