Stricter rules on van hire may be needed in light of recent terrorist attacks, London’s authorities chief has said.
Rental business have been told to be more conscious of who is getting secrets to big vehicles after hired vans were utilized twice by terrorists in the capital.
According to The Times, Metropolitan authorities commissioner Cressida Dick told the London Assembly: “Should [van hire] be regulated in any type of way? There’s a whole huge evaluation to be done. I don’t know. It may need some tweaking of legislation.”
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On 4 June three guy in a 3.5 tonne Renault Master van hired from Romford, east London ran pedestrians down on London Bridge, killing three, before attacking more people in Borough Market. They had tried to acquire a 7.5 tonne lorry however failed since repayment was declined.
Two weeks later a guy drove a rented Citroen Relay box van into a group of Muslim worshippers in Finsbury Park, killing one as well as injuring 11, after driving it to London from Cardiff.
A Hyundai Tucson SUV, hired from Birmingham, was likewise utilized to kill four people as well as injure 50 more in the Westminster assault in March.
Soon after, car hire business were told to report clients suspected of utilizing vehicles for criminal activity to the police.
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Ms Dick acknowledged that regulating van hire would be “very hard” however added “the key to this for me is absolutely in our communities”.
Toby Potson, of the British vehicle Rental as well as Leasing Association, told The Times: “We have a long-established set of protocols to allow the effective reporting of any type of suspicious activity as well as many operators have expert security managers that routinely support the authorities with inquiries.
“We are checking out methods in which we can share info more effectively with legislation enforcement organisations.”
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