Crosshire

The bandwagon is rolling

Executive Hire News, October 2008                                           Go to main Crosshire page

 
It's a pity that it takes challenging times to get a bandwagon rolling. Judging by feedback from my missive last month, a lot of you are sick of being the victims of equipment theft. Many readers have queried the use of the 'askmid' website - www.askmid.com - because the site publishers warn that the data may only be accessed by certain categories of user and they quote Data Protection as their reasons.

My view is that any internet site that allows free and open access is available to all, provided that the data obtained is used legally and responsibly. Legitimate businesses are being targeted by criminals who have no compunction in using any means to further their objectives including the obnoxious human rights laws, which have become a refuge for all types of unsavoury individuals to hide behind.

Our hire industry is being systematically robbed of resources by villains, many of whom appear to be above the law. The information that can be obtained from the 'askmid' site does not, in itself, breach Data Protection laws, as it does not give any ownership information. It simply confirms whether or not a particular registration number is insured on the day. It also gives the identity of the vehicle.

As far as Crosshire is aware, vehicles are not in themselves subject to Data Protection!! Like any information obtained from the internet, the data is only a useful guide to be judged in context with other information you may have. It is possible that a particular vehicle may have only just been insured, is part of a block policy that has not been entered correctly or, with over 30,000,000 records, a mistake has been made.

BUT if you already have doubts about an unknown punter and you are aware the vehicle he has driven into your yard is possibly not insured, will that affect your judgment? If you are looking at a tatty old white van and the web site claims it is a combine harvester, you may pause for thought!

Legitimate, taxpaying businesses are entitled to use any information that is freely available to protect themselves and their staff. If you are challenged about your use of the 'askmid' data, I suggest that you contact your insurers. The ultimate 'askmid' paymasters are the Insurance Industry. This is the same industry that is paying out a few million quid every year to compensate us for stolen assets. We are all charged under our insurance policies to take reasonable steps to mitigate the chances of a claim.

In my book, the use of 'askmid' data is in the interests of both the hire and the insurance industries. Crosshire has contacted the web site owners to point out the benefit of giving their blessing to the site being used "to obtain information for lawful purposes in the interests of crime prevention". Despite sympathetic 'off the record' comments from its staff, I am still waiting for an official reaction. A number of you have already said that you are using this information as an added weapon to fight prospective crime and that, until the facility is withdrawn or a legal big stick is waved, you will continue doing so.

Readers may be interested to learn that since I wrote last month's article, I have checked on over a dozen vehicles driven by itinerants. NONE were insured, and two did not match the vehicle description. The authorities should stop pussyfooting around. ANY vehicle that is uninsured, untaxed, running on red diesel or has the wrong identity should be seized and, if good reason and back payment of duties are not
forthcoming, CRUSH 'EM.

The debate this issue has generated illustrates my earlier comments that the greatest weapon we can deploy against criminals is information. In the early days of our industry, HAE organised meetings on a regional basis that were forums where staff from hire companies could meet and exchange ideas and information. Concerns were shared with local colleagues on issues of interest. The need to interact and
exchange ideas and solutions has never been greater.

EHN has now launched an initiative that draws on the successful parts of the old regional formula and combines it with the internet to bring hirers together in order to engage in dialogue that should benefit us all. Launched in this issue, the Executive Hire Club deserves our support. Whilst we can't afford to waste time, neither can we ignore the need to support each other through the tougher times that inept politicians and an irresponsible national press have led us to. As the prophet said "It's good to talk." Perhaps it needs times like these to bring out the best in us.

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