§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what priority his Department is giving to reducing the incidence of the theft of goods from heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement; [118594]
(2) how many thefts of goods from heavy goods vehicles with a value in excess of £10,000 took place in each of the last three years. [118595]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthReducing vehicle crime, including thefts from heavy goods vehicles, is an essential part of the Government's crime reduction strategy. One measure of the priority that the Home Office attaches to reducing such thefts is the support we are giving to the National Stolen Lorry Load Desk. The Desk, run by the Metropolitan police, collects and analyses information about thefts from heavy goods vehicles and shares it with police and industry to help prevent and detect this crime. The Home Office supported the Desk financially with contributions of £36,000 in 2001–02 and £50,000 in 2002–03, and we are providing £50,000 in 2003–04; matching contributions are raised by industry.
Information on the numbers and values of thefts of goods from lorries is not available centrally. But information provided by the National Stolen Lorry Load Desk shows that the value of property stolen from heavy goods vehicles in thefts notified to and recorded by the Desk amounted to £100 million in 2000, £145 million in 2001 and £124 million in 2002.