WEST Midlands Police's top officer aims to put pressure on new government to force car security improvements

Chief Constable Dave Thompson says that the force intends on revisiting the issue with whichever party is elected to government after next month’s election.

Earlier this year it was revealed that the number of car thefts in the West Midlands reached record levels in 2018, with 10,311 cars being stolen, compared with just 4,518 in 2015.

After a concerted effort by the force and Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson the number of thefts has actually decreased this year, with a reduction in both thefts of vehicles and thefts from vehicles.

Speaking at this week’s Strategic Policing and Crime Board (19 Nov), Chief Constable Dave Thompson revealed that the force now treats vehicle theft as a part of organised crime, with work ongoing to try and establish some sort of pattern to the kind of vehicle stolen.

But he added that there won’t be any significant reduction in thefts until changes are made to vehicle security, a matter he intends to raise with the government after the December 12 election.

“So just a reminder of where we are from last year,” he said.

“Thefts of vehicles in the force area have reduced by 12 per cent and overall vehicle crime is down 14.5 per cent, and that includes theft from vehicles.

“So this is a position that’s improving from last year, and I remain optimistic that we’ll continue that. Nonetheless, if we looked back four/five years ago, the rates of vehicle theft were considerably lower than they are now.

“Vehicles can now be stolen using modern technology, and there’s also a very substantial market around vehicles.

“In terms of national focus, we know that if we’re going to see any real changes then we have to see changes in vehicle security, but also the vehicle scrappage market. The PCC and I wrote directly to the policing minister to identify areas that could quickly incorporate it into legislation.

“Due to the election we’ve not had a response to that yet, and understandably that’s sat with officials. But I think our intention is to reinvigorate that after the election with whoever is in government.”