§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidelines to police authorities to discourage the misuse of the term joyriders to describe offences arising from taking vehicles without the owner's consent.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe law provides for offences of taking and driving away of motor vehicles without the owner's consent and for aggravated taking of motor vehicles. These are the terms which are used by the Home Office for statistical returns. Chief officers of police view such offences with great seriousness, but the use of other terms in less formal circumstances is a matter for them. It would not be an appropriate subject for Home Office guidance.