Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

Barriers Barriers to implementation & possible solutions to implementation & possible solutions

In 2004, the Home Office commissioned MORI to conduct a survey to identify the progress that police forces and the 200 highest crime local authorities have made in implementing the regulations and the obstacles they have faced.

The main barriers identified by local authorities were:

• Lack of time and resources

• Lack of awareness of the regulations

• Difficulties locating motor salvage operators

• Lack of awareness of the regulations in the motor salvage trade

• Locating the correct police department to conduct the vetting

• Low police priority and lack of police action

• Difficulties with protocols to be agreed between police and local authorities

• Determining the meaning of "fit and proper"

The main barriers identified by the police were: 

• Belief that local authorities are not doing enough

• Sense that is too early to enforce the regulations because many operators are still not registered

• Police staff shortages

• Confusion about who should carries out vetting

• Lack of vetting guidance

• Lack of standard vetting forms

The Home Office also intends to continue:

• fund National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) staff to support and advise police and local authorities as needed and identify examples of good practice

• publicising the Regulations in practitioner and trade association publications

• publicising good practice examples in  practitioner and trade association publications

• working with Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to set minimum standards for the police (auditable by HMIC) to support implementation by local authorities and improve enforcement to help drive criminal operators out of business

• publicising the Regulations through ACPO regional police conferences to which local authority representatives will be invited

In addition to the summary given below, you can also download a copy of the full MORI report PDF 170Kb

Lack of time and resources

Compliance with the Regulations is a legal requirement for all local authorities.

Possible solution:

• Salford accessed Partnership funds to finance the provision of 2 trading standards officers (one is a former police officer) to work closely with police to implement the register. 

Tell me more about Salford's solution

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Lack of awareness of the regulations

Local authority Chief Executives were advised of the regulations and local authority responsibilities before the regulations became enforceable.

Possible solutions:

• Publicise the regulations through local authority publications. 
  
  

• Read the supporting guidance published Home Office and Local Government Association 
  
  

• Read the Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002  
  
  

• Read the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001

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Difficulties locating motor salvage operators

Possible solutions:

• Guidance states that local police intelligence should be made available to local authorities
  
  

• Search through trade publications and local press advertisements 
  
  

• Ask Licensing Departments for Scrap Metal Dealers' records
  
  

• Ask the Environment Agency for End of Life (Vehicle) Directive records 

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Lack of awareness of the regulations in the motor salvage trade

Possible solutions:

• Trade associations print articles to publicise the Regulations 
  

• Trade associations’ websites cover and/or link to Regulations

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Locating the correct police department to conduct the vetting

Possible solutions:

• Start by contacting the force Vetting Unit or Criminal Records Office
  

• The police single point of contact is advised to take the initiative for making contact with the local authority

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Low police priority and lack of police action

Possible solutions:

• A minimum standard for implementing and enforcing the Regulations is being introduced shortly with HMIC auditing.  This will set out the action police are required to take.
  

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Difficulties with protocols to be agreed between police and local authorities

Possible solutions:

• Some areas have protocols that work well

Show me some protocols

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Determining the meaning of "fit and proper"

Possible solutions:

• "Fit and proper" is defined in Section 3 the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001
   

• Guidance from the Home Office is given in FAQ  
  

• Seek legal advice if you need more help with interpretation
  
  

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Belief that local authorities are not doing enough

Possible solutions:

• This is a partnership issue and the police need to take a leading role. Partners should work together.
  

• Publicise examples of good practice for local authorities
  
  

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Sense that is too early to enforce the regulations because many operators are still not registered

Regulations have been enforceable since October 2002.  Enforcement is now necessary.


Possible solutions:

• Devon & Cornwall, Northumbria and Kent have successfully enforced the registration requirement 
  
  

Tell me more about these examples of good practice


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Police staff shortages

Possible solutions:

• Use police support staff
  

• Level of priority given to the regulations is likely to increase with introduction of minimum standards auditable by HMIC.
  
  

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Confusion about who should carry out vetting

Possible solutions:

• The police single point of contact should clarify this in their force area

• Further guidance will accompany minimum standards

• Follow examples of good practice from Salford and Devon & Cornwall good practice 
  
  

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Lack of vetting guidance

Possible solutions:

• Further guidance will accompany minimum standards

• Follow examples of good practice from Salford and Devon & Cornwall good practice
  
  

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Lack of standard vetting forms

It was never intended to impose standard vetting forms on forces.

Possible solutions:

• Follow examples of good practice from Salford and Devon & Cornwall good practice 
  

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