HC Deb 12 June 2003 vol 406 cc1056-7W
Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police authorities have a dedicated team to identify and bring to justice those involved in theft of and from heavy goods vehicles. [118565]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth

Such teams, where they exist, are within police forces not police authorities. Police authorities publish annual and three-year strategic policing plans which set out local priorities and resources. But how those resources are to be used to deliver the local priorities is primarily a matter for Chief Officers. Information on how many forces have dedicated teams to combat thefts of and from heavy goods vehicles is not collected centrally.