News - Olympic plant theft targeted in launch.

(From Post Magazine)

Byline: Ed Vinales.

The Olympic Delivery Authority is being urged to utilise a new plant vehicle registration system, which it is claimed will reduce insurance premiums and the threat of terrorism in the run up to the 2012 games.

Insurers have already committed to favourably underwrite plant vehicles fitted with the tracking device. Developed by Datatag, the system is the only one to be endorsed by the police and is due to go live on 2 April. It is hoped it will combat the loss of GBP1m of plant and equipment stolen every week in the UK.

The move follows a tender put out to 20 companies by a sub group of the Home Office's vehicle crime reduction action team, which includes plant hire companies, manufacturers, contractors and the police.

In addition to the radio tracking facility, which the police will trace using a scanning device, plant vehicles that can self-drive will be registered with the DVLA.

Stefan Bramwell, construction underwriting manager at Allianz Cornhill, said: "In the past the police have admitted they have had difficulty in identifying different types of plant. This process removes that problem."