With cargo crime at an all time high according to the Transported Asset Protection Association’s (TAPA) Incident Information Service, TAPA has reported a 14 per cent increase in the number of logistics facilities and trucking operations achieving certification to its security standards in the Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region. This figure has been achieved only six months into a three-year campaign to help manufacturers and logistics service providers reduce the risk of cargo crime. TAPA intelligence has shown that almost any product moving in supply chains is at risk of theft.

Since the launch of the association’s ‘STEP UP & STAND OUT’ campaign in October, TAPA EMEA has seen the number of certifications for its Facility Security Requirements (FSR) rise to 463, a 14 per cent growth, while 72 companies in the region are now certified under its Trucking Security Requirements (TSR), a 14.2 per cent rise.

Companies gaining their first or additional FSR and TSR certifications since the start of the campaign have included Alha-Air Lines Handling, Aramex, Bos Logistics, CEVA Logistics, DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding, DPDgroup, DSV, Flextronics, Gebrüder Weiss, Georgi Transporte, Ingram Micro, LOG-IN, Nightline Group, Nippon Express, Panalpina, DB Schenker, TNT Express, UPS, Van der Valk Transport, Verhoeven International Transport and VVT Europa. New TAPA certifications have been awarded in over 23 countries in EMEA over the campaign’s first six months.

Thorsten Neumann, chairman of TAPA EMEA, said: “This is a very positive start but it is only the beginning. The major global logistics service providers operate hundreds of locations each and we hope they will continue to grow their TAPA certification programmes at a faster rate.

“Our Security Standards also enable SME companies to gain certification to the same industry supply chain security standards to help them compete for contracts involving the storage and transportation of high value, theft-attractive goods. Our intelligence shows that virtually all products moving in supply chains are now at risk of theft.

“TAPA certification is a recognised way to make facilities and trucking operations more secure, and for transport and logistics companies to show their customers they are committed to protecting their goods. Our Standards Team are ready to help any company that wants to find out more about our Security Standards. There is no question that our manufacturer members want a wider choice of suppliers with TAPA-certified operations.”

In its Incident Information Service (IIS) 2015 Annual Report, TAPA EMEA recorded 1,515 new cargo crimes, a five-year high. Freight thefts were reported to TAPA in 29 countries in the region last year, including 70 crimes involving losses in excess of €100,000. Only 22.5 per cent or 341 of the incidents reported to IIS in 2015 provided a loss value but the combined total for these cargo thefts alone was €34,528,558.

The level of cargo crime globally remains significantly under-reported, according to TAPA EMEA. A study carried out by the European Parliament suggested that in Europe alone, cargo crime costs businesses some €8.2 billion a year, while other research has shown the true cost of loss can be 5-7 times higher than the value of the stolen goods once all over factors are taken into account.

Bolloré Logistics, present in 102 countries, is one of the latest companies to state its intention to work towards global TAPA Facility Security Requirements certification. Christian Teillet, QHSE Director Corporate at Bolloré Logistics, said: “TAPA certification is more and more required by our customers during tender activities. We see clients paying more and more attention to their subcontractors in the security chain of their goods. The main benefits of TAPA’s Security Standards are they require you to have in place robust processes to continuously ensure a secure environment and they give confidence to our clients in our ability to manage their goods in a secure way.”