The CEA (Construction Equipment Association), owner of the official CESAR Scheme, attended this year’s CITS Conference on Thursday, 6 November 2025, at JCB World Headquarters, where CESAR featured prominently throughout the day’s discussions.
Hosted by Dave Luscombe, who also represented the CEA at the afternoon’s Police Awards, the event brought together senior police officers, government representatives, and industry leaders to tackle the growing threat of theft and fraud across the construction and agricultural sectors.
The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch, Leader of His Majesty’s Official Opposition, and The Rt Hon Matt Vickers MP, Shadow Policing Minister, attended the conference, where the Conservative Party used the platform to launch its Rural Crime Strategy.
CITS Chairman Ian Elliott opened the event, welcoming delegates to a day of practical discussion and collaboration aimed at curbing organised criminal activity that continues to impact UK businesses.
A keynote address from Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison, the NPCC lead for Rural Crime, examined the economic damage caused by organised criminal networks targeting the construction and agricultural industries, underlining the need for coordinated action between law enforcement, manufacturers, and industry bodies.
Throughout the day, a series of panel discussions explored the key issues facing the industry. Topics ranged from physical and cyber threats to critical national infrastructure, to the rising problem of sophisticated hire fraud, the continuing scourge of tool theft, and the police response to machinery theft through the National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team (NCATT). Each session was chaired by industry and policing experts who shared first-hand experience and practical solutions to address these ongoing challenges.
The conference concluded with the CITS CESAR Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions by police officers and industry professionals in the fight against machinery and equipment crime.
Award winners included:
Outstanding Investigation – PC Sam Smith, Essex Police
Dedication to Fighting ACE Crime – PC Andrew Katowski, West Yorkshire Police
Outstanding Officer – PC Alex Tacon, Norfolk Police
Best Team – Kent Police Rural Crime Team and Thames Valley Police Rural Crime Team
Outstanding Contribution to Tackling ACE Crime (Non-Police) – Vince Lane (RAPID) and Clair Frame (Tool Marking)
The CEA’s CESAR Scheme remains the industry’s official security marking and registration programme, delivering a proven deterrent to theft and a vital link between industry and police. CESAR’s ongoing partnership with law enforcement through CITS and NCATT continues to deliver measurable results in recovering stolen equipment and preventing crime.
Viki Bell, Chief Executive of the CEA, said:
“What a fantastically organised conference — the line-up of speakers and guests was incredible. It was a real showcase of how organisations such as CITS and NCATT, together with initiatives like the CEA’s CESAR Scheme, delivered in partnership with Datatag, are working side by side to share knowledge, tackle challenges, and strengthen the fight against machinery and equipment theft. The Awards were a brilliant way to round off the day and recognise those who go above and beyond to protect our industry.
The launch of the Conservatives’ new Rural Crime Strategy by Kemi Badenoch added another layer to the day and underlined the importance of continued collaboration between industry and government.”
Diamond sponsor: Datatag ID
Event sponsors and supporters: JCB | CEA | NCATT | NRCU | Selectamark plc | BauWatch | Hire Association Europe | Safer Group | TASSA | TVL Security
The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch talks with CITS Chairman Ian Elliott