Abbreviations & Terminology

Some phraseology is used casually, inconsistently and likely causing misunderstanding – an example can be found here.

Fraud – Differs from ‘theft’. The UK has had a Fraud Act since 2006 but possibly confusing ‘theft’ and ‘fraud’ is a carryover from the pre-2006 days when both offences fell under the Theft Act. Possibly, as both offences involve taking property, the words are used as though synonymous. The activities and their effects are very different – something that it appears police are unfamiliar with.

Additionally, is it appropriate to record vehicles taken by fraud within the same statistics as those taken by theft? Are vehicles taken by fraud distorting crime statistics?

Reports – Police reports of taking allegations require:

Soaking – a stolen vehicle is driven to a busy car park or respectable neighbourhood with on-street parking, where it may stay for up to a week, ‘soaking’ – slang for waiting to see if the vehicle is tracked by the police. Read more here.

Stolen – See ‘taken’ below.

Taken. These pages differentiate between vehicle ‘taking’ and ‘stealing’, broadly, for two reasons:

  • Allegations of vehicle theft are easy to make and rarely challenged. Yet it is a fact that some of these reports are false. Misreported crimes, which may account for as much as 30% of reported thefts, not only distort crime statistics but also undermine the credibility of genuine reports and public trust in law enforcement. Unfortunately, there appears to be limited appetite within policing to identify or address these inaccuracies. Without proper scrutiny, this pattern risks fuelling repeat behaviour and diluting the impact of legitimate cases.
  • Technically, a vehicle is initially ‘taken without consent’ TWoC (s12 Theft Act), there is a distinction – read more here. The difference is highlighted by the two main types of taking activity:

UK Vehicle Age Classifications (Common Terms & Definitions) … Classic, Vintage? Read more here.

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) – a post-1980 unique 17-character alphanumeric code adopted by most of the world’s manufacturers that should be unique to a vehicle and not change during a vehicle’s life. There are always exceptions! Read more here.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTIONS

Clone – a vehicle, generally a stolen one, bearing the identity of another near-identical vehicle also being used on the road. Two or more vehicles are being used which have the same identity.

Plate Change – or ‘false-plated’. Often confused with ‘cloning’, the identity change is simple, superficial; a pair of registration marks is applied to a vehicle, often to avoid liabilities. This conduct appears to be misunderstood by the press and police.

Ringer – a vehicle, generally a stolen one, bearing the identity of another near-ideal vehicle that has been scrapped. Only one vehicle displaying the identity is being used.

Abbreviations

ABI – Association of British Insurers
ACPO – Association of Chief Police Officers (of England, Wales & N.Ireland) – replaced by the NPCC
AI – Accident Investigator (traffic-related)
BOCU – Borough Operational Command Unit – MPS
CAD – Computer-Aided Despatch
CARB – Collision/Accident Report Book
CIU – Collision Investigation Unit
CJ – Criminal Justice
CJU – Criminal Justice Unit
Clone – A stolen vehicle bearing the identity of another
CMU – Crime Management Unit (‘Crime Desk’)
CPS – Crown Prosecution Service
CRIS – Crime Reporting Information System
CTCJU – Central Traffic CJU (part of Traffic Criminal Justice OCU)
CTG – Central Transport Garage (MPS Transport Services, Lambeth)
DI – Detective Inspector
DPS – Directorate of Professional Standards (DCC8)
DVLA – Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (part of the Department for Transport DfT)
DVSA – Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, primarily known for its association with MoT
FATACC – Fatal Accident (traffic)
FPN – Fixed Penalty Notice
Finance – Hire Purchase (H.P.), Lease Agreements, Bills of Sale & Log Book Loans (LBL)
HO/RT – Home Office Road Traffic (reporting forms) – HO/RT/1 a ‘producer’
HP – Hire Purchase
LoS – Lost or Stolen – a categorization appearing upon PNC
MIAFTR – Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud Theft Register
MoT – Ministry of Transport (a ‘ministry’ that is no more). The annual test of vehicle safety etc
MPS – Metropolitan Police Service
NFA – No Further Action (decision not to proceed/prosecute)
NPIA – National Policing Improvement Agency
OiC – Officer in Charge/Officer in the Case
PADDs – Police Authorised Data Downloads
PCN – Penalty Charge Notice
PNC – Police National Computer
Ringer – A stolen vehicle bearing the identity of one previously deemed to be a total
loss
RTC – Road traffic collision
Salvage Dealer – A party that engaged in the dismantling, breaking of vehicles and/or the sale or repair of
salvage
SVS – Stolen Vehicle Squad (a dwindling facility!)
Title – A legal right to property. ‘Ownership’ as opposed to ‘possession’
Total Loss – or ‘write-off’; where an insurer has deemed the vehicle to be uneconomic to
repair and applied a salvage category
V5C – Registration Certificate (otherwise known as the V5, Registration Document or
Log Book)
VDRS – Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme
VE – Vehicle Engineering (unit of MPS Transport Services)
VIN – Vehicle Identification Number
VOSA – Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, replaced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
VRM – Vehicle Registration Mark
Write-Off – see total loss (above)
WDC – Without due care (driving offence)