Car crime could be about to rocket again

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Mon 7 Jun 2004 11:12
Car crime could be about to rocket again - Sooty Tailpipes
Car crime could be about to rocket again - and it's all because special squads set up to bring it down are facing the axe.

Six years ago, ministers pledged to cut vehicle offences by 30 per cent by 2004. To achieve that, they launched the Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team (VCRAT), in a bid to boost public awareness about security, tighten registration procedures and crack down on thieves.

According to one insurance expert - is that the police will now concentrate on "other matters", leaving car criminals free to wreak havoc again.

Phil Swift, boss of Kent-based Claims Management and Adjusting, told us: "There's a good chance VCRAT will be disbanded. This, along with the fact that police resources will be allocated elsewhere, could see offences rise again."

The Home Office said VCRAT's future is uncertain after July 2005. "That's when the final crime figures for 2004 will be published, and the completion of a target period is a good time to review whether VCRAT should continue," explained a spokeswoman.

She added individual police forces set their own targets and were free to choose how to achieve them. Meanwhile, if your car is stolen, there's less chance than ever of it being recovered. The latest British Crime Statistics reveal an estimated 60 per cent of the 315,000 vehicles taken in 2001 were returned to their owners.

But 4,000 more cars remained missing in 2002, and Swift reckons recovery rates will fall further. "This is because a larger proportion of models are being taken by professional thieves," he said.
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It seems like it has been crossed off the list of crimes, just like shed burglaries and graffiti etc....
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Mon 7 Jun 2004 11:26
Car crime could be about to rocket again - Kuang
I've always taken the (somewhat cynical) view that the actual levels of crime don't vary anywhere near as much as the figures reported by the statistical methods used to calculate them..
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Mon 7 Jun 2004 20:41
Car crime could be about to rocket again - Hugo {P}
It's this sort of invisable decision making that makes a real impact on all our lives.

Obviously car crime is yesterday's election issue and we are now looking at other sorts of crime.

We need to see real reductions in this level of crime before the focus is taken away from it.

It is possible as proven by the fact that so many shoplifters have given up due to increased security in the stores.

In the mean time we can all look after ourslves by taking simple precautions when we're out and about and at home

H
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Mon 7 Jun 2004 21:00
Car crime could be about to rocket again - pienmash
car crime is not to bad compared to motorcycle crime,they should sort out britain full stop,and the driving test must be easier now as some of the planks that drive around without using there dickies and checking their cars before taking it out,everything is taken for granted by the under 25,s now adays.
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Mon 7 Jun 2004 21:11
Car crime could be about to rocket again - Matt
Hang on! I agree with the driving test comment but under-25s? It's very easy to generalise and target a group that you aren't part of! I'm not going to commit hypocrasy by insinuating my personal "worst age-group at driving" but it is not the under 25s.
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