While SaferCash – the Association’s initiative aimed at reducing such crime – is realising excellent results, one of the major issues still to be resolved is that of the need for Cash-in-Transit vehicles to park closer to their delivery point in order to minimise the time couriers are ‘on the pavement’ and so cut down potential risks.
In reality, parking restrictions are seriously hindering this requirement. More often than not, access is made more problematic by regulations.
Like all members of the public, Cash-in-Transit couriers are expected to abide by these laws or risk being issued with a parking ticket. However, due to the dangers couriers face they’re advised to park as close to the delivery point as possible.
Some local authorities have understood the unique risks faced by officers and agreed to provide exemptions. Fundamentally, though, the industry is forced to liaise with each authority on a separate basis regarding this issue. An arrangement that’s extremely bureaucratic. It’s a very complex situation in London, requiring individual liaison with the 33 Boroughs as well as Transport for London.
While the industry doesn’t wish to violate such parking regulations, it’s often forced to do so due to the risk of attack.
The BSIA and its members are calling for Cash-in-Transit vehicles to be afforded ‘across the board’ exemption from parking regulations. Ministers from the Home Office, the Department for Transport and the Department for Communities and Local Government have now added their voices to the call for an exemption in a joint letter distributed to local authorities.
The introduction of parking exemptions would be another significant step in protecting our couriers and the members of the public they serve from – often serious – attack. We shall press for this to happen.