§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the number of deaths and injuries arising from joy riding; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanThe Government are monitoring the effects of recent legislative measures. The Criminal Justice Act 1993 doubled to 10 years' imprisonment the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving or careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs. The Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992 was introduced to provide more appropriate penalties for the menace of joy riding.
We will continue with our strategy to reduce the opportunity for all forms of car crime by encouraging motor manufacturers and insurers to improve vehicle security, and motorists to adopt good security measures.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been involved in joy-riding accidents which have resulted in(a) deaths and (b) injury in each of the past five years (i) in England and Wales and (ii) on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanThe available information is given in the following table. Provisional information is given for 1992 only on the number of notifiable offences and persons cautioned, prosecuted and convicted under the Theft Act 1968, section 12A as added by the Aggravated Vehicle Taking Act 1992, section 1, which came into force on 1 April 1992. Data for 1993 are not yet available. Prior to 1992, the term "joy riding" related to offences which would have been included in the theft and unauthorised taking of motor vehicles offence classification.