West Midlands Police joins national taskforce to tackle vehicle crime

The government taskforce aims to improve vehicle security standards, introduce tougher procedures on the salvage industry and to restrict the sale of tools, both mechanical and electronic, which can be used to steal vehicles.

West Midlands Police and the MET are the only two forces on the taskforce, which is being chaired by policing minister Nick Hurd.

The announcement comes as West Midlands Police chief constable Dave Thompson says his force is 'making good head way' in the fight to lower car crime in the region, which has almost tripled since 2015.

He told a police board meeting this morning: "Organised theft around vehicles is one of the highest priorities the force has at the moment. There's a commodity for second-hand cars on the market but operation Cantil has had success in disrupting and bringing to justice the people who are stealing the vehicles."

Since the start of Operation Cantil the force has made nearly a thousand arrests and recovered more than 600 vehicles.

Mr Thompson said youngsters are carrying out the thefts on behalf of gangs as it helps them get money quickly. He said by targeting these youngsters his force was hoping to follow the flow upstream to the criminals ordering the thefts.

The government's new taskforce will meet every six months and will include key players from the car industry, as well as a representative from the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner's office.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “I have been calling for the government to take more action on vehicle crime for some time. Through this taskforce I want to see swift action to bring down vehicle thefts and disrupt the operation of organised criminals.

“I have made vehicle crime a top priority for West Midlands Police.

“It will play its part in tackling these crimes, having made almost 1,000 arrests and more than 600 vehicle recoveries since September 2018.

“However, vehicle manufacturers need to start making their vehicles more difficult for thieves to steal.

“Through this taskforce we will be seeking to achieve a higher standard of vehicle security, requiring vehicles which have been repaired after being written off to undergo a safety and identity check to ensure that parts from stolen cars have not been used in their repair.

“I am still concerned that equipment which can be used to easily steal a vehicle through electronic compromise is still on sale to the general public.

“I have been calling on retailers to act responsibly and stop selling these devices which are being used to commit these crimes.”