The Government has enlisted the BVRLA to act as an approved partner to monitor and assess compliance against its Rental Vehicle Security Scheme. This will see all 455 Rental and Commercial Vehicle member organisations automatically signed-up to the scheme as part of BVRLA membership.
The voluntary scheme was introduced by the Department for Transport in December 2018 to help mitigate the risk of vehicle terrorism following a spate of attacks in 2017 where vehicles were used as weapons.
Monitoring compliance with the scheme will form part of the association’s existing governance programme as of 1 January 2020.
BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney said:
“The BVRLA and its members have always taken security matters seriously and we do not take lightly the trust that the Government is placing upon the BVRLA by agreeing for us to act as an approved partner to help implement their Rental Vehicle Security Scheme.
“By making this part of our mandatory Code of Conduct, we are taking an industry-led approach, and although it will not be a complete panacea, the scheme will go some way towards further strengthening a culture of security vigilance across the sector and our members support that. We will continue to work with government and law enforcement to explore more opportunities to further counter the threat of terrorism.”
Transport Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Baroness Vere said:
“It is critical that businesses across the UK are vigilant when it comes to matters of security, and this vital scheme plays an important part.
“By making sure rental firms do proper checks on customers, we can reduce the risk of vehicles being used to cause harm. I’d like to thank the sector for everything they are doing.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D’Orsi, Counter Terrorism Policing said:
“It is only by working together with our partners across government, industry and importantly the public, that we can keep our communities safe.
“Our business partners, including the BVRLA who have been a key partner within the vehicle rental industry, and the Department of Transport, have worked with Counter Terrorism Policing to embed good security practices within their industry. This latest agreement will help support the oversight of this important piece of work”
Full guidance will be published in the coming weeks to support members with compliance of the scheme.
Read the press release issued 5 November 2019: Government enlists the BVRLA to strengthen Rental Vehicle Security Scheme.
