Autocrime performance

Report: 5
Date: 13 March 2001
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides an update on information provided to PSPM in December, and highlights the growth in the use of DNA identification in autocrime. The report also points out the implications of the decision that Autocrime will feature as a sustained activity in next year's Policing and Performance Plan.

A. Recommendations

That members note the report.

B. Supporting information

Current performance

1. The MPS has set targets to reduce autocrime and improve judicial disposal rates. The MPS definition of autocrime includes theft of a vehicle, theft from a vehicle, aggravated vehicle taking, vehicle interference and tampering and criminal damage to a vehicle. The MPS has adopted this definition, rather than the narrower vehicle crimes definition used in the Best Value indicators [1] and by other forces, to encourage accurate crime recording.

2. The autocrime total is made up as follows:

3. The chart below shows the trends in autocrime offences over the last two years. There are no discernable differences in trends for specific crimes within autocrime – all component parts vary consistently with the autocrime total.

Identifications

4. The Burglary report for March PSPM gives details of the MPS Scientific Support Strategy, and outlines trends in DNA and fingerprint identifications for burglary. The background information is not repeated here. Shown below are the identification trends for motor vehicle offences.

5. DNA identifications relating to motor vehicle crime take up around 28% of all DNA identifications and have increased by 92% in 2000/2001 compared with 1999/2000 (Apr – Jan). The MPS has a year-to-date JD rate of 4.4% for autocrime offences.

Comparison with other metropolitan forces

6. BVPI 128 looks at vehicle crime offences [2] and detection rates. The charts below show how the MPS compares with other metropolitan forces and the national average. These figures relate to performance up to April 2000.

7. The MPS total vehicle crimes per 1000 population increased very slightly in 1999/2000, similar to Merseyside. In comparison the other Metropolitan forces remained either constant (GMP) or experienced a reduction. West Midlands, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire have seen their figures fall to almost 50% below the national average and 65% below the MPS.

8. The MPS percentage detected decreased slightly in 1999/2000, in line with other Metropolitan forces. Northumbria was the only Metropolitan force recording above the national average. The MPS detection rate for vehicle crime was 50% below the national average.

Government 5-year targets

9. Autocrime [3] makes up 27.5% of the total offences recorded in England and Wales. In the MPS, autocrime makes up 23.4% of total notifiable offences.

10. In 1998/9, the Government set a target to reduce the number of autocrime offences by 30% within five years (i.e. between April 1999 and March 2004). [4] In 1998/9, the MPS made up 15.5% of the national total of autocrimes.

11. MPS progress towards the five-year reduction target has been slow. In 1999/2000, the MPS target was to reduce autocrime by 4%. During that year autocrime rose by 7.6%. The 2000/2001 target is to decrease autocrime by 8%. Year-to-date performance shows a 0.9% increase.

12. The chart below shows national trends for theft of and from vehicles. Note that this is a subset of autocrime. This shows a continued decrease nationally in theft of and from vehicles since 1994.

MPS plans for 2001/2

14. The Sustained Activities set out in the draft 2001/2 Policing and Performance Plan include an objective to reduce autocrime. Two targets have been set – to reduce crime by 5% and to increase the JD rate to 5%.

15. The focus of this approach is on reducing crime through effective prevention, partnership and target hardening. Improvements in JD rates should be delivered by increased forensic examination and improved intelligence analysis.

16. To achieve this objective the draft plan states that the MPS will:

• use existing and new systems of intelligence, utilising the focus desk approach to conduct analysis across both corporate and industry data systems. The results of the analysis will direct borough patrolling and prevention initiatives;
• maximise crime scene opportunities and forensic products by providing secure sites for vehicles and focussing scene examiners on vehicle crime. The increased forensic product will provide enhanced intelligence regarding offenders and may be used to support Anti-Social Behaviour Orders;
• progress crime reduction and prevention initiatives in partnership, including the provision of target hardening schemes, advice to motorists, including direct text messaging and improved security devices in new and used vehicles;
• work with other agencies such as Youth Offender Teams to develop youth diversion schemes;
• disseminate good practice to provide boroughs with a menu of what works and potential quick wins;
• the MPS will also support national level agencies such as the Association of British Insurers and the Retail Motor Industry Federation in their contribution to the reduction of vehicle crime.

17. One of the strands of performance improvement against autocrime this year has been the recruitment of additional scene examiners. They have been brought in to increase capacity to obtain forensic evidence from autocrime scenes, and so to improve detection rates. At the same time, improved facilities for holding vehicles for forensic examination are being established. Funding was obtained for an additional 200 scene examiners. 'To use scientific support in any measure, the MPS is negotiating with the Association of British Insurers to gain support for a full recovery of stolen vehicles to forensic pounds. This involves a review of the Vehicle recovery scheme, which is ongoing.

18. At the same time, crime prevention has been encouraged through the promotion of secure car parks. This prevention initiative and other partnership approaches will be continued into 2001/2.

19. The change in priorities for next year presents opportunities to redirect police efforts towards identified priorities. The draft plan sets out action plans on burglary and autocrime, which will spread the scene examiner expertise to address burglary scenes.

20. The sustained activity for autocrimes will link in with other elements of the plan, including the priorities for youth offending and streetcrime (including the strongbox approach). In addition, autocrime will be addressed through local crime and disorder strategies, where it appears as a priority for 20 of the 32 boroughs.

C. Financial implications

None.

D. Background papers

• Report to Professional Standards and Performance Monitoring Committee – Burglary and Autocrime

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Cath Kitching, MPS Corporate Performance Analysis Unit.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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