FUNDING by a range of trade bodies and other organisations has reportedly helped in the recovery of £890,000 worth of stolen plant and equipment in two recent police operations.
That’s according to superintendent Andy Huddleston, who leads the National Rural Crime Unit and the National Construction & Agriculture Theft Team (NCATT).
The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) is contributing £90,000 over three years from 2024-2026 to help fight plant equipment theft and fraud, which is said to be costing the construction plant industry millions every year. With additional funding from the Construction Equipment Association (CEA), Hire Association Europe (HAE), CESAR donors, insurers and other organisations, a total of £210,000 per annum is being contributed collectively over the next two years to help fund NCATT.
The funding has recently supported two major operations which have helped recover large quantities of plant and equipment stolen from CPA members.
Superintendent Andy Huddleston said, “Over a 10-day period two NCATT operations resulted in multiple strikes on locations in West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire. The two operations led to three arrests and the recovery of £540,000 of stolen matting and fencing and 36 pieces of machinery valued at £350,000, all of which were taken from hire companies.
“It has also been announced that NCATT will receive £120,000 from the Home Office to help replace operational vehicles over the coming three years, something which is critical and very welcome.”
Since NCATT was formed in January 2023, the unit has experienced growing success in recovering stolen plant and agricultural equipment. In 2023, NCATT recovered almost £6.3 million of stolen plant and equipment. This increased to £10.5 million in 2024, and 254 arrests were made. So far in 2025, almost £5.4 million of stolen plant and equipment has been recovered, and 68 arrests have been made.
CPA CEO Steve Mulholland said, “It’s excellent news that our funding is helping lead to the recovery of stolen plant, which is a massive problem costing our members and the wider industry huge amounts of money, stress and lost revenue. We have over 1,900 members at the CPA and we feel it’s very important that the membership funds go back towards helping them.
“Our £90,000 contribution to the work of NCATT is bringing immediate, tangible benefits to our members in preventing and detecting criminal activity and the recovery of illegally obtained plant hire equipment.”
