§ 3.9 p.m.
§ Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they will introduce obligatory, immediate recording of the sale or export of motor vehicles and their main components in order to assist identification and reduce theft.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)My Lords, motorists are already obliged to notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency when a vehicle changes hands or is exported abroad. As to legislation to make the marking of vehicle components compulsory, we are examining what practical crime prevention benefits would result from legislation on this issue and will be inviting the police to comment.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for her reply. Is she aware of an estimate that this country has the highest rate of theft of vehicles in the developed world because they can so easily be disposed of without trace? Have the Government consulted the police about improving identification and banning trade in anonymous main components on the lines adopted in the United States?
§ Baroness BlatchMy Lords, comparisons between different international criminal justice systems are difficult and misleading. England and Wales have an extremely high recording rate for thefts of vehicles of up to 97 per cent. It is the trend that is important and, happily, that is downwards. Although the figures are still high, as my noble friend will agree vehicle crime has decreased by 17 per cent. over the past three years.
There has been full consultation between the police and the appropriate government departments on this issue. In particular, there has been consultation with the DVLA. The joint notification scheme, of which my noble friend is aware, whereby the buyer and the seller are obliged to notify the DVLA on the same document when a vehicle changes hands, is due to be implemented in the spring of 1997. It will assist the police when checking the ownership of stolen vehicles.