The new London Freight Enforcement Partnership has been officially launched by the capital's transport minister Mike Brown. 

Aimed at tackling unsafe HGVs, the scheme will also take charge of removing non-compliant and unsafe commercial vehicles from the road. 

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) welcomed the development, claiming that it is good news for the vast majority of companies in the sector that do take road safety very seriously. 

Head of national and regional policy at the FTA Christopher Snelling said that the number of HGVs involved in fatal road accidents has halved over the past decade. 

"This is partly due to the investment by the logistics industry in improved vehicles, drivers and operating practices," he commented. 

Mr Snelling added: "Increased enforcement using the intelligent, targeted approach taken in London is the right way to go."

He emphasised the fact for the scheme to have maximum impact, it will need to form part of a wide-ranging safety programme.