A route many may never hear about. When police seize property that becomes the subject of competing claims, there is a legal mechanism designed to resolve those disputes. Yet many innocent purchasers are never told about it. Some may come away believing the matter ends when the vehicle is taken into police possession. In reality,…
When police officers seize a vehicle suspected of being stolen, most people assume the matter is legally settled. The vehicle is taken, and the person who reported it stolen will eventually receive it back. However, this assumption overlooks an important distinction within the law. Police powers to seize property exist for investigative and evidential purposes,…
A Freedom of Information request submitted to Staffordshire Police in July 2025 has raised a broader procedural question about how requests are handled over time. The request was initially refused under section 14 (vexatious), maintained at internal review. Months later the response was revised, following ICO involvement, to a position that the information is ‘not…
Capability Without Coordination? Modern vehicles are increasingly connected devices. Many can receive over-the-air updates, transmit diagnostic information, and in some cases be located remotely. This often leads to a simple question: At first glance the solution appears straightforward. In practice, the situation is more complicated. Manufacturers are rarely the first organisation to learn that a…
Read the Form First! If you are applying for a police collision report for insurance or civil litigation purposes, a simple status enquiry could cost you. In at least one force area, the disclosure form states that: ‘Full disclosure will not be provided until a specified future date’. If you submit an email to check…
What is an “Enforced Subject Access Request”? Section 184 of the Data Protection Act 2018 creates a criminal offence known as “enforced subject access.” It is occasionally misunderstood. What Section 184 Actually Does Section 184 makes it an offence for a person to: A “relevant record” is narrowly defined as: Both elements must be present:…
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…
Some 20-odd years ago, a constabulary reported that about 30% of all ‘reports’ of vehicle theft were tainted by fraud. Why would this be any different today? 2024: I read a JDA case study with interest and urge anyone involved in the vehicle theft arena to familiarise themselves with key examination. Some wonder why I…
“With thefts up and recoveries down, anything we can do to help our overstretched police forces is surely welcome”. Source: ‘report process aims to cut motor claims delays and ease police pressures‘ With vehicle theft rising by 30%, from 100,000 in 2022 to 130,000 in 2023, UK police constabularies must prepare for a surge in…
A vehicle theft crime number is not evidence that a theft occurred. to the desk, line on the left, just one number. Next?” The value of a police reference number, indicating a report of a crime has been officially registered, diminishes if it is obtained with minimal effort or verification. Currently, a police reference only…
