The UK has 43 police constabularies but for the purpose of recording LoS markers, this number increases. By way of examples:
- Scotland is now the subject of a single police constabulary; Police Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Poileas Alba). Officially the Police Service of Scotland, formed in 2013, LoS markers are still presented by, or the DVLA continues to record these markers under pre-reform/merge, constabularies of Dumfries and Galloway, Fife etc.
- There are also specialist units such as NaVCIS* and the NCA that submit LoS markers to the PNC that are received by the DVLA.
*Who appear to submit ‘loss’ notifications as opposed to ‘stolen’; NaVCIS are funded by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) i.e. their vehicles/VRMs are more likely to be taken by FRAUD than by THEFT.
The DVLA
The DVLA records ‘stolen’ notifications from multiple sources.
As described above, the DVLA only receives confirmed records.
Assessment of Statistical Distortion Risk
A LoS marker placed to the PNC and confirmed transfers to the DVLA as a matter of routine.
- Why would there be a difference in the number of VRMs a constabulary records as LoS on the PNC and the number of ‘stolen’ records received by the DVLA?
Gwent Police
The following may apply to other constabularies. However, Gwent has been highlighted as:
- Gwent & weeding has more commonly come to our attention
- An FoIA and Home Office figures were noted indicating the constabulary’s theft numbers were significantly higher than advised to the DVLA
- The service claimed to have addressed the issue
- The constabulary appears to accept that weeding was an unnecessary process
Case Study: Gwent Police Data Discrepancy
Why would the number of LoS reports held by the Home Office and Gwent police differ significantly from the LoS records placed with and held by the DVLA?
The figures giving rise to our concerns are as follows and relate to VEHICLES (as opposed to just cars) in 2024:
- 375 DVLA
- 1,040 Gwent Police
- 1,032 Home Office*
*This figure has not been used for comparison as the Home Office data is for financial, as opposed to calendar years. However, the Home Office data suggests over 1,000 vehicle thefts are recorded by Gwent each year – why are the DVLA only aware of 375, what has become of the other 665 stolen notifications?
The source of the information can be found at:
Gwent Police FoIA response 2025/28985:
