Home Office Policing Minister Nick Hurd has chaired a new taskforce to tackle vehicle theft.
Nick Hurd said he was confident the taskforce will significantly strengthen response to vehicle theft. He said: “We are determined to take swift and decisive action on emerging crime threats. With rates of vehicle theft increasing, I am keen to ensure everything is being done to prevent these crimes. Drawing together the police, industry and government proved to be a successful way to see what more could be done to support police efforts to tackle moped crime and I’m eager to see the results of applying a similar model to vehicle theft.”
The body included Combined Industries Theft Solution (CITS), the group featured in the December print issue of Professional Security magazine; insurance and motor trade bodies; Thatcham Research; and the West Midlands PCC (Police and Crime Commissioner) David Jamieson. Its topics include vehicle security standards – whereas a pervious generation of crime prevention measures cut vehicle theft in the era of physical keys for locking cars, criminals are taking advantage of security weaknesses in keyless cars; criminals exploiting the motor salvage process to chop up and ship cars for their parts; and devices (often sourced online) that may be used to commit vehicle theft.
Meanwhile a new Economic Crime Strategic Board has met, which will meet twice a year, to set priorities, direct resources and scrutinise performance against the economic crime threat, as set out in the Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) Strategy. That includes government ministers, bank executives, and people from the trade body UK Finance, the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Solicitors Regulation Authority, Accountants Affinity Group and National Association of Estate Agents; a sign that fraud is not only a matter of theft, but of proceeds being laundered through professionals and the legal economy.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: “We need to take action on all fronts to target the corrupt fraudsters who are lining their pockets with dirty money and living luxury lifestyles at the expense of law-abiding citizens. The Government is already investing millions in the fight against economic crime, but it is crucial we work closely with our financial sector partners to win this battle. These criminals threaten the UK’s reputation as a world-leading place to do business and we have a joint responsibility to stop them.”
Sajid Javid said that the Home Office will commit £3.5m in 2019/20 to support work to reform the suspicious activity reports regime (SARs); how banks, accountancy, legal and property firms are required to flag up suspicions about potential money laundering and terrorist financing to the NCA. A paper for the defence and security think-tank RUSI last year queried the 30-year-old SARs regime; while likewise a recent assessment by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the UK’s anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing system found that SARs need an overhaul. According to an NCA report, last year the UK received and processed a record number of SARs – 463,938.
Bob Wigley, Chair of UK Finance, said: We want to ensure the UK is the safest and most transparent financial centre in the world. Banks already spend over £5 billion a year fighting economic crime, but the private sector can’t tackle it alone. That’s why the finance industry works closely with law enforcement and Government agencies to stop the threat and protect customers. The new Economic Crime Strategic Board will strengthen these vital partnerships. As part of this, it’s vital that we have the best anti-money laundering reporting system possible. The industry is committed to supporting the Government in reforming the existing regime and UK Finance is currently hosting a team of industry and Home Office experts to achieve just that.”
