§ 20. Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made by his Department against car crime; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John PattenLast November, the Home Office standing conference on crime prevention set up a working group to consider the prevention of car crime. Rover Group, which is represented on the working group, is producing a security concept car, incorporating a range of the latest technology in car security, for display at this year's standing conference in December.
Five parts of a British standard on vehicle security (mechanical locking systems, security of in-car entertainment equipment, window etching, central power locking and deadlocking) have now been published. Steps are being taken to have the British standard adopted as an EC directive.
Our crime prevention publicity campaign, the second phase of which will be launched shortly, includes information on car crime and the scope for preventing it.
In 1987 the number of offences of theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle recorded by the police in England and Wales fell by 5.2 per cent. compared with 1986. In the 12 months ending June 1988, the number of recorded offences of theft or unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle fell by 6.2 per cent. compared with the previous 12-month period. It is encouraging that these reductions coincided with measures taken by the Home Office and by police forces throughout the country with the specific aim of reducing car crime.