Contents
Briefing paper 54/2011, provides an update on reduced car pound space and the impact on the numbers of vehicles seized.
Warning: This is archived material and may be out of date. The Metropolitan Police Authority has been replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).
See the MOPC website for further information.
Has reduced car pound space impacted on the numbers of vehicles seized?
54/11
1 August 2011
MPA briefing paper 54/2011
This briefing paper has been prepared to inform members and staff. It is not a committee report and no decisions are required.
Following a request from the MPA Strategic and Operational Policing Committee on 16 June, this briefing paper has been prepared to inform members on whether reduced car pound space has impacted on the numbers of vehicles seized.
This briefing has been prepared by Mark Lewis from HR Vehicle Recovery and Examination Services, MPS.
The position is that the available space in the pounds has no impact whatsoever on the number of vehicles seized.
Seized vehicles are stored at MPS pounds rather than contractor pounds because under the relevant legislation, MPS staff must check driver documentation.
It is a fact that the turnover rate of vehicles has improved over time and this is due to a number of factors. Whilst we cannot dispose of vehicles that are seized until we have reached the statutory 15 days, we are proactive in getting as close to this date as possible. It is also true that members of the public that actually retrieve their cars are now tending to do so quicker than in the past.
As far as the other vehicles that we manage are concerned, we regularly chase up officers with a view to releasing vehicles as soon as possible following examination. The overall impact of all of these factors is that our 'space ratio' - the number of vehicles that can occupy a given space in a pound over a period of time - has improved.
Having said that our space ratio has improved anyone looking at the pounds might think that they were working to capacity, and this is true. If we have any available space we back fill with vehicles that would otherwise go to contractors garages and thereby save storage fees. This in no way affects the capacity of the pound as this process can be readily reversed.
Space availability for our 2 MPS/MPA car Pounds is as follows:
- Charlton 1000 spaces
- Perivale 950 spaces
Seizure figures:
| Year | Reclaim/Foist vehicles | Other vehicles | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006/7 | 8,720 | 21,603 | 30,323 |
| 2007/8 | 15,091 | 20,297 | 35,388 |
| 2008/9 | 32,013 | 19,074 | 51,087 |
| 2009/10 | 35,343 | 17,837 | 53,180 |
| 2010/11 | 33,642 | 15,491 | 49,133 |
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