If a stolen vehicle is found within the UK, what happens next can depend upon which constabulary located it. Unfortunately, it appears there is not standardised procedure.
However, if a stolen vehicle has been found and taken into police possession, for example, taken to a pound, it is likely costs will be associated with its recovery – the owner should act promptly! These costs will likley be for:
- Recovery – a scale of charges exist
- Storage – as at mid 2024, £26/day
For more about the charges click here.
In the UK, cross-border agreements related to the examination of stolen vehicles primarily operate under frameworks designed to facilitate collaboration between different police constabularies and law enforcement bodies. By way of example, the MPS MoU with a number of police services can be read here.
Mechanisms include:
- National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) is a national unit that apparently supports UK police forces with intelligence related to vehicle crime, including stolen vehicles. They are understood to facilitate cooperation across regional borders by sharing data, providing expertise in vehicle identification and coordination between police forces across the UK to track and examine stolen vehicles
- Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), now known as the National Police Chiefs’ Council or NPCC, established guidelines for the examination and investigation of stolen vehicles across police borders. These guidelines emphasize cooperation, data sharing, and uniform procedures to ensure seamless investigation.
There are also Mutual Aid Agreements between neighbouring police forces allow constabularies in the UK to share resources and expertise when investigating stolen vehicles, ensuring continuity across regional borders.
