Crime Reduction - Helping to Reduce Crime in Your Area

Case study: Devon and Cornwall Case study: Devon and Cornwall

This case study outlines work done in Devon and Cornwall to implement and enforce the Motor Salvage Operators Regulations

It covers:

• Structure

• The registration process

• Liaison between police and council

• Enforcement

The local/unitary authorities in Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly each organise their own register however, they have a single point of contact within Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and a single process which has been mapped out to assist the authorities and police to work together.

See the flow chart of the action process within the Devon and Cornwall area

To prevent a duplication of effort when the regulations were brought in, a police representative from the Vehicle Crime Reduction and Investigation Support unit worked with an authority representative from Exeter City Council to produce application templates for use by every authority.

Show me Devon and Cornwall's application forms 

Show me Devon and Cornwall's template letters 

Vehicle Investigation Officers within each of the four Basic Command Units within Devon and Cornwall Constabulary are the main source for MSO identification. These premises are then sent application packs by the local authority and encouraged to register to avoid prosecution for failing to register.

There is a Memorandum of Understanding between the police and local authorities which covers the responsibilities of each party, indemnity, data protection issues and nominated liaison contacts. Twelve out of sixteen authorities have signed this protocol and the local authority contacts have responded positively to a police suggestions for a force area or regional forum for practitioners to discuss current issues. Close liaison has been an important factor to implement the scheme once the correct person has been identified.

Although the police have a single point of contact, the decision to visit or enforce the legislation rests with Basic Command Units (BCUs) which have competing priorities for resources.

Proceedings to date include

• A prosecution for failing to keep proper records which resulted in a £100 fine.

• A rejection as a result of a police objection - although the applicant subsequently commenced appeal proceedings, they withdrew at the last minute.

The force has a database that is accessible to all officers for the identification of certificated premises. This is necessary to determine police powers when required. The system used allows staff to have access to the 'vehicle related' activity performed by IIMU and BCU VIO (vehicle investigation officers). This includes all activity on MSO Regulations which is recorded and auditable via the system.

We are not responsible for the content of external websites.