2007 – The Plant Theft Action Group (PTAG) was created in 1996, with the aim of reducing construction plant theft within the United Kingdom, through a partnership approach. It was incorporated into the Government’s Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team strategy in 1998. The current chairman is Kevin Clancy of the Clancy Docwra Group of engineering companies.
PTAG consists of representatives from construction plant manufacturers, users, hirers, Police, HM Revenue & Customs, insurers, allied industries, plant equipment database handlers and the security assessment industry.
Major achievements include the introduction to industry of minimum standards of secure marking and vehicle construction, assisted by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch, Security Guidance Document for Agricultural and Construction Plant (PSDB Publication 1/2002) and also commissioned a major report and research by Home Office researchers, “The Nature and Extent of Construction Plant Theft.
In 2007 and in the lead up to the 2012 London Olympic Games, PTAG promoted the secure marking and registration of machinery using Datatag ID Ltd as system provider for CESAR (Construction Equipment Security and Registration).
While PTAG no longer exists, organisations like the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) and the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) continue the fight against plant theft by supporting initiatives like the CESAR scheme and the new police unit ACE (Agricultural and Construction Equipment).