The Official Police CPI & Home Office Approved Security & Registration Scheme

The CESAR Scheme is the only official Police (National Police Chiefs' Council - NPCC) and Home Office approved construction and agricultural equipment registration scheme. The scheme was designed for the Police by the Police, working in partnership with the Construction, Agricultural & Associated industries to provide Police Officers, Law Enforcement Agencies, Border & Port Authorities an easy and effective way to identify all types of equipment and machinery 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - even on Christmas Day if required. Market leaders, Datatag ID Ltd were unanimously voted to operate the CESAR Scheme after an extensive competitive tender process and as part of the criteria set out for this important scheme by the Police, it stated that the chosen service and system provider had to operate to the same level as both the Police and Home Office and meet the requirements of the new Home Office Document 'Security Guidance Document' for Agricultural and Construction Plant 64/09 which specifically recommends that all machinery should be protected and registered with CESAR. As the chosen service and system provider, Datatag is accredited to the highest standards including ISO:9001:2015, LPS 1224 (the recognised database security standard), and is one of only a few companies to be awarded "Secured by Design" status, which is a Police preferred specification approved by the Home Office and National Police Chiefs' Council for database and security systems.

24/7 access to the secure database allowing accurate verification and provenance

The sole aim of the CESAR scheme is to provide an easy way of identifying all types of machinery simply and easily. The UK based secure support centre and the CESAR & Datatag database is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year providing support for Police Officers and Law Enforcement Agencies at the roadside, border crossings or ports and can provide help to confirm a machines real identity and true keeper or loser. Equipment can be checked and instantly the provenance of a machine can be determined.

Ease of identification for Police and Law Enforcement Officers, Border, Port and Customs Officers

The CESAR Scheme is a simple registration scheme that allows officers, even if they are not familiar or experienced with the vast amount of different machinery with a quick and easy way to identify equipment and confirm who the correct registered keeper is. No prior experience is required of the vast amount of different machinery and within seconds of contacting the 24/7 UK based CESAR helpline and correctly identifying themselves, an Officer can be provided with vital information such as the make, model, engine, frame & chassis numbers, DVLA number, the VIN, date of registration, colour/s and registered keeper and their emergency contact details etc. This will allow Police to subsequently contact an owner out of hours who may still be unaware of the theft of their valuable equipment.

Police and a Duty of Care regarding stolen / recovered property

The CESAR scheme was designed to be the "Official Construction and Agricultural Registration scheme" operating on behalf and for the benefit of the industry as a whole. It protects Police by allowing a duty of care when dealing with a third party's property. The service and support is provided totally FREE of CHARGE and unlike some other private companies & databases, the CESAR Scheme does not charge or invoice the owner of the stolen / recovered property with any recovery costs, finders fees or 'Bounty Charges' which can be as high as 50% of the value of the recovered equipment i.e. a machine valued at £80,000 could cost the owner as much as £40,000 in order to have their machine successfully returned. Duty of Care - If an officer decides to engage the services of companies that charge a finders fee or "Bounty Charge" an officer should obtain the permission from the owner of the recovered equipment that they are aware and willing to accept these type of fees or costs as they could be substantial.

Multi Layered Security System to defeat the criminals

The CESAR Scheme comprises of a number of layers of security designed specifically to tackle and combat the organised criminal. The highly visible tamper evident CESAR identification plates are the first layer and primary identifier with a number of security features built in to maintain the integrity of the registration plate. Each CESAR system also includes state of the art Datatag radio frequency identification transponders or 'RFID chips' which are hidden in and around the machine plus, hundreds of unique Datatag Datadots® concealed throughout the machine and even an invisible forensic DNA marking solution making it virtually impossible to detect and remove. Since 1992, Datatag and their technology have established themselves as one of the most powerful theft deterrents available and criminals would have to be 100% confident they have successfully removed all of the Datatag identification technology to avoid detection and potential prosecution.

The CESAR website "Hot Button" for Stolen Machinery

As part of the original criteria set out by the Police for the Official CESAR Scheme was the requirement of a stolen machinery "Hot Button / LIVE Link" on the Official CESAR website. This important "Hot Button / LIVE Link" is located within the main home page and navigation and when activated, completed and sent with all of a stolen machines details the secure UK based support centre immediately receives an alarm and will record details of the stolen equipment within minutes of receiving the alert. The stolen record will still need to be confirmed and verified by the Police Crime Number but it allows a Police Officer or the stolen machines keeper to report their loss immediately without any of the "out of hours" or "weekend hiatus" issues currently experienced with the PNC. This means that if a machine stolen late on Friday evening is reported via the "Hot Button" a Officer from another Police Constabulary trying to establish the correct identity of a machine and it's current status or keeper will be able to get up to the minute information before the PNC is updated on a Monday morning and circulated and can decide the most appropriate action to take.

New Global Alert for Stolen Machinery registered with CESAR

As a result of the accurate machinery data recorded by Datatag and the CESAR Scheme, all machinery that is stolen and registered on the CESAR Scheme will have their stolen details circulated to SOCA (the Serious Organised Crime Agency) who in turn, circulate this important information Worldwide to 187 Countries via Interpol and Europol. Although this is a recent development, it is already having a major impact helping to alert Police, Law Enforcement Agencies, Border and Port Authorities of machinery. This has already helped to recover a number of valuable machines stolen and quickly shipped out of the Country. This daily stolen machinery reporting procedure is unique in the world and probably one of the most significant developments for the Official CESAR Scheme.

Crime Prevention

Because each CESAR system is a multi layered security system, it is very robust and virtually impossible to defeat. Criminals are less likely to steal a machine protected and registered with CESAR compared to a similar model which has no markings or registration system. Recovery rates of CESAR registered equipment are significantly higher than non registered machines and official statistics confirm that a machine protected and registered by the CESAR Scheme is approximately 4 times less likely to be stolen than a non registered machine and approximately 6 times more likely to be recovered. We expect these figures to increase as more and more manufactures opt to register their machines as standard.

The Unique Stolen Machinery Database powered by Datatag, CESAR and Leading Insurers

The Construction and Agricultural Industries major insurers have recently requested that Datatag and the official CESAR database also records all stolen machinery details on its 24 hour database including equipment which has not been previously registered with CESAR registration. In association with these major global insurers, all stolen plant equipment will be accurately recorded on the Datatag and CESAR database. Officers can now contact CESAR & Datatag 24/7 and ask for checks on all suspicious equipment. Again there are no finders fees or "bounty hunter charges" imposed on the owners of equipment found. CESAR can be contacted on 03 450 700 440 or via the website contact page www.cesarscheme.org/contact.php.

The key benefits of CESAR are:

1. CESAR is widely supported in construction and agriculture and adopted by many leading manufacturers, trade organisations, and the police
2. CESAR is the only official and Police CPI approved security and registration scheme for plant and equipment
3. CESAR provides lifetime protection, for a machine, with no subscriptions or annual fees
4. CESAR powered by Datatag is a powerful deterrent against theft and an invaluable aid in recovery
5. CESAR is proven to work, CESAR registered machines are 6 times more likely to be recovered if stolen and 4 times less likely to be stolen in the first place
6. CESAR does not charge machine owners and insurance companies for recovery, unlike some other schemes
7. CESAR registration qualifies a machine for insurance premium discounts and/ or lower insurance excesses from all the leading insurance companies
8. CESAR uses Datatag hi tech security markings to give each machine a unique 'fingerprint' which is impossible to remove
9. CESAR helps the police by providing a means of positively identifying a machine and by providing information through the police national computer 24/7
10. CESAR helps reduce costs for machine owners and operators, insurance providers, and finance and leasing companies

Q & A

1. What exactly is CESAR?

CESAR is an equipment registration and security scheme using Datatag hi tech security markings that acts as a powerful deterrent to theft and an invaluable aid in recovery, in the event of theft.

2. Does it work?

Yes. Official statistics issued by the Plant and Agricultural National Intelligence Unit, based within Scotland Yard, show that a machine without CESAR is 4 times more likely to be stolen than a CESAR registered machine. Plus the recovery rate for unregistered plant is as low as 5% but the recovery rate for stolen CESAR registered machines has increased to nearly 30% in 2009, 6 times that for 'unregistered' plant.

3. Who supports CESAR?

CESAR powered by Datatag has wide industry support, in both the construction and agricultural markets, from official bodies including the Home Office and Police CPI, leading manufacturers, the insurance and finance industries, utilities and local authorities. The Construction Equipment Association and the Agricultural Engineers Association both actively promote the adoption of CESAR.

4. How is my machine protected?

CESAR registered machines are fitted with a sophisticated Datatag multi-layered security system that gives each machine its own unique 'fingerprint', that is impossible for thieves to remove.

Datatag security is made up of 4 elements, both visible to act as a deterrent and covert to aid identification and recovery. Firstly, a number of tamper proof registration plates are securely fitted to the machine's chassis. Secondly, a number of Datatag RFID transponders, each the size of a grain of rice, are hidden in the machinery each with its own unique programmed code. Thirdly, the machine has patches of chemical forensic liquid Datatag DNA painted on it. The liquid DNA also has microscopic Datatag Datadots® suspended in it which are barely visible to the eye.

It's literally impossible for thieves to remove all the tell tail identification traces from a CESAR registered machine.

5. What type of equipment can CESAR be fitted to?

CESAR can be fitted to all types of self propelled and trailer mounted construction and agricultural equipment.

6. Which manufacturers fit CESAR?

Many leading construction and agricultural manufacturers fit CESAR powered by Datatag as standard on the machines they supply into the UK and Republic of Ireland. Further information can be found on the WHO'S INVOLVED page.

7. Can CESAR be fitted to existing machines?

Yes. CESAR can be fitted to any type of construction and agricultural machine of any age. An additional benefit of registering equipment with CESAR powered by Datatag is that machines without a DVLA vehicle registration mark are recorded on the DVLA's 'Off Road Register' giving full visibility to the police.

8. Who can fit CESAR?

Only approved suppliers can fit CESAR. As well as manufacturers and their dealers, several local and national service organisations are approved to fit CESAR powered by Datatag. Please visit the dealer page.

9. How much does CESAR cost?

Manufacturers include the cost of CESAR in their products. In the 'aftermarket' CESAR typically costs £150 excluding VAT for an 'on site' installation. For multiple installations at one site the typical costs will reduce by 25%. There are no other costs associated with CESAR powered by Datatag, once fitted a machine is protected for life. If a machine is sold the new owner can be registered against existing CESAR registered asset. The cost is only £13.19 excluding VAT. To benefit from the peace of mind and the Insurance discounts available, you must be the current registered keeper.

10. Do insurance companies give insurance premium discounts?

Yes. CESAR powered by Datatag is approved by all the leading Insurers and discounts of up to 20% are available to the registered keeper.

11. If my machine is stolen how much would it cost me if it was recovered by CESAR?

The short answer is nothing! Unlike some 'stolen vehicle registers' CESAR does not charge machine owners or insurance companies for recovery. CESAR work closely with the police and notify them when a CESAR registered machine is stolen, including international police organisations like Interpol and Europol.

12. If my CESAR registered machine is stolen what should I do?

You should immediately notify the local police and obtain a 'crime reference number'. However, you should also contact CESAR. Either use the CESAR 'hot button', which is on the home page, to notify CESAR of the loss. Once you have submitted the details CESAR will immediately flag the machine as being stolen on the Police National Computer (PNC). Alternatively and for ease there is also a secure 24/7 call centre (tel 03450 700 450) and database open to machine owners and the police to provide assistance.

13. What happens once I've reported a CESAR registered machine as stolen?

The CESAR secure database is linked to the police national computer, the serious organised crime agency, Interpol and Europol. Machine thefts are notified around the world to the police and other agencies in over 180 countries. This is one reason why CESAR recovery rates are 6 times higher than for unregistered equipment.

14. How do the police determine the true identity of a CESAR registered machine?

If one or more of the triangular registration plates is intact the police can get all the relevant details, just like for a car or van, from the PNC at any time of the day or night.

If the registration plates and manufacturers' plates have been removed the police can use a special Datatag scanner to 'read' the Datatag RFID tags hidden in the machine. CESAR can give the police all the details they need from the unique number from just one tag. As a back-up the liquid Datatag DNA and Datatag Datadots® can also be used to categorically identify a specific machine.

15. Can the CESAR 'tags' be used for other purposes.

Yes. Because CESAR gives each machine a unique identity with the Datatag RFID or fingerprint, this can be used for stock control, billing and service scheduling.