COMMITTED TO MAKING OUR ROADS SAFER

I am delighted to have taken up the post of Head of Transport Regulation Unit, within the Department for Infrastructure. I have 20 years’ experience of working within the Public Sector mainly in the areas of Audit and Policy and Legislation.

This experience has equipped me with skills and experience to provide independent, evidence based and objective evaluations of operational business activities, including compliance with laws, regulations and procedures. Most recently, having led on the recently published draft Road Safety Strategy for NI to 2030 [Draft Road Safety Strategy for NI to 2030 (infrastructure-ni.gov.uk), I am committed to road safety and helping to play my part in ensuring that our roads are safer for all. I look forward to actively working with all stakeholders within the industry to encourage all operators to adopt robust systems, to ensure there is fair competition and that the operation of commercial goods vehicles is safe. I hope you find the articles in this edition of the newsletter of interest.

Fraud Alert

What is happening? Criminals are moving illicit alcohol from Northern Ireland to mainland UK. Hauliers and logistics providers are being sub-contracted to transport goods on which no UK excise duty or VAT has been paid. The commodities involved are full or part loads of mixed-brand beer or wine. Criminals are taking advantage of excess capacity and reduced rates for transport which may otherwise run empty when outbound to mainland UK. What does this mean for me? By supplying haulage or logistic services you could unwittingly be helping criminals to commit alcohol fraud. You should be aware that:

• Being involved in criminal activity can bring risks to you and your business

• Tax or duty losses may result in financial penalties or criminal prosecution

• Seizure of illicit good and-or vehicles may lead to disruption of scheduled services

Turning a blind eye to any kind of fraud means criminals can operate in plain sight and with little risk to themselves. This is a crime that hurts legitimate businesses and the public, who go on to buy unsafe, unregulated or out of date products.

What do I need to do? You need to take immediate action to address the risks highlighted in this fraud alert. It is in your interests to check carefully who you are dealing with to help avoid being unwittingly involved in supply chains where tax or duty has not been paid. Please share this fraud alert with people in your business who may be approached to supply haulage or logistics services involving alcohol – particularly movements between Northern Ireland and mainland UK. Check and review your company due diligence policy for customers who subcontract movements of alcohol – ask yourself if your colleagues know the policy and are following it correctly.

If you store or transport alcohol for customers, you should determine the duty status of the goods and ask for evidence to confirm UK duty has been paid.

It is your responsibility to ask: “could this be part of a fraud, or implicate my business in the supply of illicit goods?” If the answer is yes, consider carefully whether you want to be involved at all or if you need to take action to mitigate the risks.

If any customer makes large cash payments or you suspect money laundering, you should consider making a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) to the National Crime Agency. For more information visit: http:// www.gov.uk and search: ‘NCA SARS’.

Additional Checks

It is good practice to carry out checks to