Devon-based Van Guard Accessories have joined Secured by Design , the official police security initiative .

Van Guard Accessories are a long-established UK manufacturer of quality van accessories . With over 45 years ’ experience , they are a proud British manufacturer with a fully equipped 35,500 sq ft factory and offices , specialising in both van storage and van security . The company offers a wide range of van accessories , including van roof racks , van racking , pipe carriers , van locks and van shielding . Products from Van Guard Accessories enable both sole traders and fleet operators to maximise the storage and security of their vans .

As a company , Van Guard Accessories ensure high quality products and service with their dedicated team of designers , engineers , and customer service staff , who make up a loyal and professional workforce who are culturally committed to innovation . The company provides regular training for all employees to consistently improve their skills and are renowned for their excellent and personable customer service , both technical and sales .

You can find out more about Van Guard Accessories and their Secured by Design accredited products at : https :// www . securedbydesign . com / member-companies / sbd-members ? view = companydetail & account = 0011i00001BvJHbAAN

Amy Butterworth , Van Guard Accessories , said : “ Becoming a member of Secured by Design demonstrates our commitment to designing and manufacturing products that meet the highest quality and security standards . Our ULTILock Hooklock has been awarded Secured by Design accreditation , giving our customers the reassurance that their van is secured by a product that meets a Police Preferred Specification . We ’ re looking forward to working with Secured by Design to expand our accredited product range . The Secured by Design accreditation gives an additional credibility to both our products and company and gives customers the confidence and peace of mind that they ’ re purchasing products of the highest quality and security standards .”

Lyn Poole , Secured by Design , said : “ I am really pleased to say that Vanguard Accessories Ltd are now SBD members and are already looking to expand on their SBD products shortly . They are an established company with great products , and I look forward to working with them .”

Secured by Design ( SBD ) is owned by the UK Police Service with the specific aim of reducing crime and increasing safety for businesses and individuals .

SBD is the only way for companies to obtain police recognition for security-related

products in the UK , through the Police Preferred Specification - a product-based accreditation scheme developed over 20 years ago , which provides a recognised standard for all security products that effectively deter and reduce crime . SBD work with manufacturers and standards authorities to ensure that security standards are current and updated to keep pace with emerging crime trends .

www . van-guard . co . uk

Sky high fuel prices are placing an unstainable burden on UK businesses and the government must introduce a temporary reduction in diesel fuel duty to protect the economy , according to one of the UK ’ s biggest business groups , Logistics UK .

Writing to Rishi Sunak MP , Chancellor of the Exchequer , ahead of the Budget 2022 , Elizabeth de Jong , the business group ’ s Director of Policy , comments :

“ Logistics businesses , which operate on very narrow margins of around 1 %, are currently facing significant increases in the price of fuel . These additional costs cannot be absorbed by logistics operators and it is unavoidable that much of these cost rises will need to be passed on to end customers as a result .

Fuel is the single biggest expense incurred by logistics operators – it accounts for a third of the annual operating cost of an HGV and without it , goods cannot be delivered to their destinations . Logistics UK is urging Rishi Sunak MP to cut diesel fuel duty in the next budget . This reduction could be temporary and reviewed

in the Autumn Statement , should fuel prices have fallen .”

Crude oil was trading at its highest level for 14 years on 8 March 2022 . The cost of crude oil has risen by 12 % since the start of the Ukrainian conflict , and 41 % since the start of the year , and the price of diesel is 24 % higher at the forecourt year on

year . Logistics UK estimates that just one penny increase in duty adds around £ 470 per year to the cost of running one truck .

Logistics UK is one of the UK ’ s leading business groups , representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading , and more than seven million people directly employed

in the making , selling and moving of goods . With COVID-19 , Brexit , new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain , logistics has never been more important to UK plc . Logistics UK supports , shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics , and is the only business group which represents the whole industry , with members from the road , rail , sea and air industries , as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods .

For more information about the organisation and its work , including its ground-breaking research into the impacts of COVID-19 on the whole supply chain , please visit logistics . org . uk