Identifying Problems
Click here for the chart, which can be used as a worksheet in conjunction
with this checklist to help summarise your findings. This will provide partners
with an outline of the identified problems in your area. Look also at the 'Symptoms'
section of the Conjunction of Criminal Opportunity referred to under the
'Outline Approach' section.
- What types of vehicle crime?
- Where is it occurring?
- When is it occurring?
- How often?
- What is the impact?
- Who or what is the target?
- Are repeats occurring?
- How are they doing it?
Where possible it is advisable to calculate vehicle crimes in relation to the number
of vehicles registered in your area; or to estimate the number using the area if it
is a town centre or a shopping centre.
The Vehicle On-line Descriptive Searches (VODs) Transactions allows vehicle and
owner details to be retrieved from the Police National Computer. There is no requirement
for a full or part vehicle registration. The data can be retrieved on the basis of
colour of the vehicle, make or model or by postcode.
The recent report by HM Inspector of Constabulary "On the Record" acknowledged
the potential benefits of VODs and considered that it was a contributory factor to
detection rates. The report will shortly be on the HMIC website page (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/hmic/otr00.htm)
There are a number of commercial companies with databases on vehicle (ownership).
Details of these companies are available from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority
(http://www.dvla.gov.uk/) -
Regulation 15 of the Road Vehicles (Registration
and Licensing) Regulations 1971, as amended, provides for
information to be released to local authorities for purposes
connected with the investigation of an offence or of a
decriminalised parking contravention, and to the police.
DVLA also provide information to anyone
for a fee (currently £2.50) who can show they have reasonable cause
for their request. "Reasonable cause" is not defined in
regulations and each case is judged on its merits. DVLA also has the
responsibility of ensuring that the privacy of the individual
motorist is protected and that we meet the requirements of the Data
Protection Act.
DVLA also provides data to HPI/Equifax and to
Experian. By way of an extract from the vehicle database, vehicle
data (no names and addresses) are disclosed so that prospective
purchasers may verify certain vehicle details. The companies combine
the DVLA data with that received from other sources so that as much
information as possible can be accumulated on a particular vehicle.
For example, they will have information about mileage, whether a
vehicle has been notified as a total loss and whether the vehicle is
subject to any encumbrances or is notified as stolen.
In addition, a further three companies will also
be provided with data from January 2001. Details of HPI and Experian
are as follows:
Contact: Martin Brassell
Equifax
PO Box 61
New Street
SALISBURY S01 2TB
Telephone: 01722 413434
Contact: Rob Whalley
Experian
Talbot House
NOTTINGHAM
NG1 5HF
Telephone: 0990 275145
In addition, the Agency has an Anonymised Vehicle
Data Scheme under which a number of agents have been appointed to
handle the sale of vehicle data on the Agency’s behalf.
Information available includes make and model details (but not the
registration mark) as well a partial postcode information that
identifies the geographical distribution of vehicles across Great
Britain. Details of the agents are as follows:
Contact: Mr Darren McNulty
BPMS Limited
Villiers House
Clarendon Court
Clarendon Avenue
LEAMINGTON SPA
CV32 5PR
Telephone 01926 430202
Mr Neil Bell
Experian
Embankment House
Electric Avenue
NOTTINGHAM
NG2 1RQ
Telephone 0115 968 5037
James Rickets
Polk Leeds Limited
NCR House
Ring Road
West Park
LEEDS LS16 6TZ
Telephone 0113 386 4055
Mr Carmelo Aquilina
SMMT
Forbes House
Halkin Street
LONDON
SW1X 7DS
Telephone 0207 344 9209
Contact: Mr Paul Whitaker
Urban Science International Limited
Urban Science House
Gogmore Lane
CHERTSEY KT16 9AP
Telephone: 01932 574400
DVLA website: www.dvla.gov.uk/dvla.htm
The National Plant and Equipment Register Limited
(TER) assists the police with the identification and recovery of
stolen construction and demolition plant and equipment, tractors and
agricultural machinery, trailers and caravans. This work is carried
out on behalf of the UK's leading construction, engineering, motor
and agricultural insurers, finance companies, construction,
agricultural and haulage companies and owners.
Police and law enforcement agencies have 24 hour
access to TER's database. TER has over 350,000 items of equipment on
their 'positive' register with a value of around £465 million and
31,000 items registered as stolen with a value of £125 million. TER
has access to the Police National Computer (PNC) and to the Garda
Police National Computer.
TER, Bath & West Buildings, Lower Bristol
Road, Bath BA2 3EG Tel: (24 hr) 01225 464599. Further information
can be obtained on www.ter-uk.com
"Retainagroup provide a vehicle
marking, registration and verification system. The system involves
the permanent etching of a unique code number and 7-day, 24-hour
contact phone number into the vehicle glazing. The code number with
associated VIN is stored on the International Security Register (ISR)
in a secure environment staffed by vetted personnel. Owner and
driver details together with security data and other vehicle
information are also retained on the register.
Police, public and trade can enquire of the
database, free of charge. There are specific procedures for dealing
with police and public in accordance with Home Office Replacement
Key and Thatcham protocols and the Data Protection Act 1998.
As required by ACPO, both the marking system and
International Security Register (ISR) have been independently
assessed by the Loss Prevention Council against LPS 1224 and 1225.
ACPO CPI Ltd also licenses the system as meeting Police Preferred
Specification under the Secured by Design scheme.
Further information can be obtained at www.retainagroup.com
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