Risk analysis and the threats facing European logistics

Extinction rebellion activism in UK. Source: Alamy Stock Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo.

2 June 2023

European logistics operators continue to be confronted with numerous security threats with the potential to seriously disrupt their operations. Alongside cargo theft, recent data from the Risk Intelligence LandRisk Logistics’ System highlight violent robberies and the ever-more numerous protests from climate activist groups as some of the most important at present time.

By Steve Bacot, LandRisk Manager and
Jeanne Albin, LandRisk Security Specialist

Activism

The past year has seen an unprecedented rise in climate activism-related actions in Europe. Campaigns aiming to block traffic on motorways and city centres have been widespread, particularly in the United Kingdom and Germany.

For example, on 24 April 2023, around 1,000 activists from the German group Last Generation halted traffic across Berlin by engaging in sit-ins and slow march protest and gluing themselves to roads. Thirty three locations around the city were impacted by an action which caused significant traffic congestion and led to the deployment of 500 police officers. Similarly, in London, Just Stop Oil supporters are currently engaging in an ‘indefinite’ protest campaign and have been marching six days a week since 24 April 2023, causing regular disruptions to the major arterial routes leading to and crossing the city. Both these operations are demonstrative of a high level of motivation and organisation employed by activist groups to pursue a clear objective: causing as much disturbance as possible to make their point heard in public spaces.

Alongside the fact that these types of actions run the risk of hindering supply chain operations by creating delays and leading drivers to make unplanned changes from established routes or secure parking, recent evidence highlights the fact that these disruptions are increasingly resulting in tensions between protestors and road users. For example, in early May 2023, the London Metropolitan Police reported a collision between a vehicle and a Just Stop Oil activist in Islington, north London, after a disgruntled driver attempted to force a passage through a group slowing down traffic along Holloway Road. A few weeks later, a man appeared to have attacked activists in yet another Just Stop Oil action in Central London in footage showing him attempting to violently push campaigners out of the road. With no end sight to these disturbing efforts, it is clear that climate activism thus also poses a security concern to drivers who may encounter confrontational situations which ought to be taken into account by logistic operators.

Robberies

With 167 violent incidents (robberies) against a variety of supply chain targets in Europe last year, robbery incidents pose a threat that cannot be ignored. Although total robbery incidents are minor in comparison to conventional cargo theft the risk to drivers or facility staff is significantly increased. There have been thirty supply chain related robberies in Europe within the last three months resulting in injuries to staff and significant financial losses and this threat is expected to continue. Incidents have included robberies of trucks in transit and when parked at rest areas, last mile delivery robberies and robberies at company facilities and motorway service areas.

All organisations have a duty of care to their staff for which the C-suite are also ultimately accountable. So, what is the best way to prioritise resources to reduce the risk of violent incidents, which although unlikely (compared to cargo theft) can have a major impact. How can organisations best prepare for such an incident and provide assurance to top management that this risk is being managed? Staff training and awareness, use of TAPA TSR protocols, communication and robust incident management plans are just some of the tools operators should employ to reduce their risk.

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TAPA EMEA Live Conference in Amsterdam on 14-15 June

Sign up now and meet our LandRisk Logistics team in person. The threat of activism, robberies and other security risks to the supply chain will be discussed by LandRisk Manager Steve Bacot during a panel discussion at the TAPA conference in Amsterdam on 15 June.