Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

STATUS

• Electronic immobilisers on new cars.

• Compulsory since October 1998.

• Compulsory electronic immobilisers on used cars.

• This recommendation is not being implemented. Instead, motorists are being encouraged to fit electronic immobilisers or mechanical ones where the value of the car makes this more appropriate.

• Police identify and spread good practice.

• Raising the profile of tackling vehicle crime within the Police Service so that all forces give it the same high priority. The Best Value regime, including individual force targets, will help.

• The Vehicle Crime Reduction toolkit (launched in January 01) contains advice on evaluated initiatives and those that look promising in the light of experience. It is aimed at the wider crime reduction community (not just the police) and is the main means by which good practice is spread.

• Good practice seminar for partnerships to be held in March 2003

• Police given training in key vehicle crime reduction messages.
  

• Three pilot training courses ("Driving the Action") were held in 2000 for police and local authority Community Safety Officers on developing effective vehicle crime reduction strategies. A further four courses were held before the end of April 2002.

• Make more information available to police at the roadside (i.e. bulk access to DVLA’s drivers records, Motor Insurance Database (MID) of insured drivers and to computerised MOT records).

• Bulk access to DVLA drivers records is provided for in Section 71 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 and was brought into effect on 4 March 2002.

• MID became operational in July 2001. Section 36 of the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 gave police bulk access to the MID so that they could use it proactively to identify uninsured drivers. Provision expected to be implemented in January 2003.

• Computerised MOT records will become available by the end of 2003.
  

• Steps should be taken to promote the scheme to ensure highest possible levels of take-up.

• As at 3^rd March 2003 there were 1210 car parks with Secured status in England and Wales.

• Steps taken to support the scheme include£49.5 million of the CCTV Capital Modernisation Fund has been allocated to 247 bids to improve security in 794 car parks, of which 427 will seek "Secured" status.

• Home Office funding to support the work of the Regional Development Officers employed to promote the scheme in 2002/3 was £300,000 with further funding of £225,000 for 2003/4

• Establish direct link between DVLA and Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR).
  

• Current plans are for this to be established during March 2002. Annotation of the Vehicle Registration Document with a "seriously damaged" marker to be implemented 7 April 2003.

• Extend coverage of MIAFTR information to include fleet and other self-insured vehicles.
  

• The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has incorporated a requirement to notify MIAFTR in its Code of Conduct. The next steps are to encourage other fleet owners and self-insurers to follow suit. (Consultations required with Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) and the Association of Insurance Risk Managers in Industry and Commerce (AIRMIC)). [April 2003]
  

• Make more information available to police at the roadside (ie DVLA driver records, MOT and Motor Insurance Database of Insured Drivers).
  

• See "Better Enforcement" above.

• Establish dedicated VCRAT Task Group to examine linkages between computerised information systems.

• A VCRAT Information Systems Task Group has been established in order to ensure that best use is made of computerised information systems in tackling vehicle crime.

• Enhance existing Motor Conference Code of practice for disposal of motor salvage.

• Agreed within VCRAT Task Group.

• Statutory backing for enhanced Code of Practice.

• Achieved by Sections 1-16 of the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001.

• Regulations came into effect on 21 October 2002.

• Raise status of Vehicle Registration Document (V5) by:

• Requiring it to be produced at re-licensing if the DVLA reminder is not used;

• Charging a fee for issuing a duplicate V5;

• Requiring proof of identity when V5 issued;

• Annotate V5 with information on "seriously damaged" vehicles and provide a telephone hotline to the public;

• Establish electronic links with the motor salvage industry;

• Establish a voluntary system to track vehicles through the motor trade;

• Establish a trailer registration scheme.

• Tighten up supply of number plates.

• Establish a Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) scheme.

• Achieved through Section 32 of the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001. Implemented 1 February 2003;

• Implementation date 1 January 2004.

• Expected implementation during 2004.

• V5s will be annotated with information on "seriously damaged" vehicles from 7 April 2003; the telephone hotline for the public has yet to be confirmed.;

• Link established October 2002

• Pilot in September 2003 with a roll out programme late 2003 early 2004

• Implementation date to be confirmed;

• Achieved by the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001. Regulations came into effect on 1 January 2003

• Achieved by Section 33 of the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001. Expected implementation date: 7 April 2003

• Raise profile of vehicle crime in public mind

• Home Office launched three year national vehicle crime reduction communications campaign. First phase launched October 2000.

• www.secureyourmotor.gov.uk website established containing information on the campaign and pdf versions of various leaflets.

• More strategic "brand partnership" activity planned for the next financial year.

• Competition launched in January 2003 for voluntary community groups to enter vehicle crime reduction projects/campaigns to be copied and adapted elsewhere.