Various organisations have come together to form the Caravan Safety and Security Group (CSSG), a working group set up to combat caravan related crime. The Camping and Caravanning Club, The Caravan Club, the National Caravan Council (NCC) and the Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) have created this cross industry project. Funded by The Camping and Caravanning Club and the Caravan Club, the aim of the group is to work on improving safety and security in the caravan industry, and has the support of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
The initiative was launched at the International Caravan and Motorhome Show at the NEC on October 12th. One of its projects is to launch a website at www.cssginfo.co.uk to help caravanners and the caravan industry to help reduce caravan-related crime. The CSSG will provide opportunities for the caravan trade to work cooperatively to develop measures to help cut theft from, and of, caravans, caravan holiday homes, and motor caravans. To achieve this it will be working with caravanners, enforcement agencies, government, and commercial, trade, and member organisations. And for consumers, it will look to promote good practice in safety and security-related issues, providing up to date information on new products and technology, and the latest thinking regarding crime, safety and security.
Lesley Coell, Head of Insurance and Financial Services, from The Caravan Club said: “We’re confident that the co-operative approach of the ‘Caravan Safety and Security Group’ is the very best way to tackle these concerns for our members and for caravanners as a whole.
“We look forward to working with our industry colleagues to benefit the members of our respective organisations, and support the work of police forces around the country in tackling caravan crime.”
Director General of the NCC, John Lally, added: “We are on the offensive tackling caravan crime from all angles. CSSG can pool knowledge, share resources and really make things happen.”
Committee Chairman and Director General of The Camping and Caravanning Club, Robert Louden, 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.
“It has become increasingly important to find an effective solution to help consumers feel informed on all security issues. The new working group aims to provide support by answering any safety and security questions.
“It is essential that further development work is put into place to help continue to maintain and heighten current safety and security standards.”
AVCIS consultant, Tim Booth, added: “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. Leisure time is crucially important for all of us, and the safer it is, the more we will be able to enjoy it.”
We at www.caravan-insurance-cover.co.uk applaud this initiative and hope it can have a powerful effect in reducing caravan crime.
Tags: caravan, Caravan Safety and Security Group, crime, initiative, safety, security