2007: The Leisure Sector VCRAT group meets approx. 4 times a year. Since its inception in 1998 the group has focused on the theft of caravans, trailers and personal watercraft. A significant barrier has been the lack of reliable statistics on thefts and recoveries, and the use made of the Police National Computer by police officers checking property.
Chairman: Alan Bishop, Hire Purchase Information
Secretary: David Welsford Camping and Caravanning Club
Members represent: The Caravan Club, National Caravan Council, Home Office, Met Police, Lincs Police, West Midlands Police, AVCIS, Phantom Ltd and the National Trailer and Towing Association.
The group has provided a Caravan section in the Thatcham Directory, produced training materials including a video for Forces, established a Caravan Registration Scheme (CRiS), organised two National Caravan Crime Conferences, worked with manufacturers to enhance security and produced the Home Office ‘Steer Clear of Caravan Crime’ leaflet circulated to over 1 million caravanners. A mini website linked to the Home Office Crime Reduction website went live in May 2007.
Future activity will focus on improving the PNC property applications, addressing the threats posed by the Olympic 2012 build up and achieving a national standard for safe / secure storage.
See: Leisure | NAVCIS