who knows, who cares?
The Convenient Label That Replaces Investigation If a vehicle vanishes and the owner still holds their keys, the obvious question is: But asking that question requires effort; checking vehicle history, key logs, and ownership records. How much easier, institutionally, to declare: ‘Keyless theft’; have a crime number; we will log the VRM on the PNC…
Section 184 of the Data Protection Act 2018 – ‘Enforced Subject Access’ Given the delays associated with disclosure of police crime & RTC (collision) reports and that some insurance companies are excluded from engaging the ABI/NPCC MoU, it is unsurprising, some insurers or their representatives have turned to the Data Protection Act. To date, 4…
A Risk in the UK Automotive Market Recent events involving GVE London have brought renewed attention to a longstanding concern: the potential pitfalls of ‘Sale or Return’ (SOR) agreements. This incident is not isolated. At CMA, we are investigating traders whose conduct has ended in dispute or financial loss – raising critical questions about the…
Stealing quality, not quantity. Whilst the number of recorded vehicle thefts in the UK fell by 4.5% last year (2024), according to DVLA data, thefts of vehicles under three years old actually increased by 6.6%. The number of stolen Toyota Hilux pickups rising by a staggering 549%. The data was obtained from the DLA and…
Crushing e-bikes after 7 days: meaningful action or media soundbite? The West Midlands PCC wants to halve the time before seized e-bikes and e-scooters are destroyed — from 14 days to 7. But does this change make a difference? A closer look at the Commissioner’s 17(?) claimed benefits reveals a common theme: most of these…
Cost-Cutting Brilliance? You have likely heard the tale. Someone asks a matchbox company: “Want to save 50% on your striking strip costs?” Of course they do. “Only put the strip on one side of the box!“. A success. The suggestion is rewarded. Legendary, but unsubstantiated.* Crime-Cutting Reality Police officers approach the government: “We can cut…
Police Report Disclosure – the ICO, the NPCC and … ‘The Others’. They say communications were sent. Important ones. A police constabulary is adamant they contacted key individuals. But, ask for names, and there are none. Request the addresses, ask to see the messages… and the silence is deafening. No records. No replies. No trace….
What is wrong with this vehicle taking scenario: Such an account challenges conventional assumptions about organised vehicle theft, which typically centres on profit-driven operations employing sophisticated tools and planning; organised & professional crime. The apparent carelessness of abandoning a targeted, valuable asset, apparently obtained furtively using specialist tools, raises what should be an obvious question:…
Vehicle taking allegations in the United Kingdom hve surged in recent years, reaching a 15-year high with 129,159 vehicles stolen between April 2023 and March 2024 . This alarming trend has sparked debates over the root causes, with some attributing the rise to manufacturers’ security shortcomings. However, is the primary issue not attributable to vehicle…
Car Theft Trio Jailed After Crime Spree Three individuals involved in a major car theft operation have been sentenced after a series of blunders led to their capture. One suspect left a bag containing car keys and cannabis in a coffee shop at a caravan park, while the others were apprehended following unrelated car crashes,…