Car Crime in London: Selling Car Parts and Exporting Overseas - Term Paper Example

Car Crime in London; Selling Car Parts and Exporting Overseas Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 The Car Theft Index 4 Factors Contributing to Car Theft 6 Description and Justifications of Different Elements of Car Crime Reductions 8 Sold Secure Scheme 8 Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) 11 Justification of the Effectiveness of Car Crime Reduction Scheme 13 Theory of Change for Car Crime Reduction in London, UK 14 Identifying Goals and Assumptions 15 Backwards Mapping and Connecting Outcomes 16 Developing Indicators 17 Identifying Interventions 17 Writing Narrative 18 Summary Evaluation Plan 18 Quasi Experimental Design 19 Potential Problems Associated With the Evaluation 21 Conclusion 22 References 24 Introduction Motor vehicle theft has emerged as a serious problem in recent times. According to the British Crime Survey (BCS) car theft contributes substantial proportion of total crime within the country1. In the United Kingdom, the level of car crime has been relatively high in the past few years. Each year large number of cars is stolen for exporting their parts to other parts of the world. Consequently, car crime has emerged as one of the most frequent categories of crime in the UK. During the year 1991, car crime in the UK was identified to be more than 28% of all the crimes recorded in the country2. Hence, the intensity of car crime witnessed in the recent times has immensely demanded more stringent efforts to prevent such crimes. In many ways, cars are attractive that makes car crime an easy target for criminals. At times, cars are of high values which are left in the spots with relatively less security. There are many ways through which criminals can perform such unethical and thwarting tasks. The intensity of car crime has been now realized by the people involved in preventing crime. In addition to this, police has been involved in detecting car crime as well as they are engaged together with local authorities and other organisations to identify measures for curtailing such crimes. Simultaneously, car manufacturing companies are also carefully considering security factor to be essential while manufacturing their cars. The Car Theft Index There has been a dramatic fall witnessed in car crime over the last 15 years. Consequently, with the fall in car crime in the UK, 45% drop in the overall crime rate since 1995 has been witnessed. According to the figures accumulated by the official police reveals that dramatic fall both in terms of car theft as well as thefts from motor vehicles. Accordingly, car crime including car theft and stealing from motor vehicles were calculated to be more than 1.1m during the year 1997. However, the crime statistics witnessed radical improvement since then and in 2010, car crime in the UK was calculated to be 456,0003. Additionally, car crime that was estimated to be more than 20% of the overall rate of 5m crimes a year in 1990 has dropped significantly in the recent years. Fortunately, the success of the car manufacturers and their initiatives to make the car security more reliable for the owners has resulted in fall in the car crime rate in the UK. According to the report issued by police in the year 2011, the car crime rate in the UK had reduced share of 13% of the overall rate of crime in the UK4. Source: 4 At the same time, the data compiled by London police related with car crime in London has revealed positive results in the last ten years. Consequently, in the last ten years, car crime has dropped to more than one third in 2011 against the data collected in 2000. It is worth mentioning that car crime according to the year 2000 estimation was observed to be more than 3063 while at the end of the year 2011 it was recorded to be 891. Notably, there has been a constant decrease in the car crime rate5. The diagrammatic presentation revealing fall in the car crime rate in London is being depicted below: Source: 5 Factors Contributing to Car Theft Car crime is recognised as a common offence demanding immediate police response. There are various factors that contribute towards the occurrence of car crime. A few of the important aspects have been elaborated below: Car Security In recent times, it has been identified that manufacturers of the cars often claim and ensure that they offer the best security system for the cars they are manufacturing. However, the significant rise in car theft had raised many questions over their claims. In other words, most of the cars available today do not possess adequate security. Moreover, it has been witnessed that car thieves often take minutes if not seconds to break the car security irrespective of the best car models. However, it would be impractical to blame manufacturers only, for increasing car crime. Instead, it can also be viewed as a responsibility of police personnel to combat with such issues1. Regional Locations At the same time, considerable differences exist in car theft rates across the UK. The local problem of car parking and related crimes has been creating a wider impact on the regional basis. Contextually, car theft rate in the UK is much higher in urban areas including London than in countryside areas. This is because thieves have larger options and easily available targets in urban areas. In addition to this, car thieves can easily find their customers in urban areas1. Car Models A few of the major variations in car theft is also related with the models of cars that are manufactured by different companies. Hence, certain models of cars available at the market are attractive and common for thieves to steal. In relation to this, Joy-riders often favour those cars that possess superior acceleration and fun to drive while on the other hand professional thieves tend to steal those cars that are expensive, out of which they could make handsome money1 Parking Facility and Locations It has also been recognised that car theft is relatively higher in particular cities such as London that provides enhanced facility for car parking. However, this can be attributed to high concentration of downtown rendering it convenient for those thieves to target attractive cars. Simultaneously, the cars parked remain unattended by their owners almost all day round. In such environment, thieves find it easier to operate in such parking lots1. Description and Justifications of Different Elements of Car Crime Reductions Sold Secure Scheme Sold Secure scheme was launched in the year 1992 as an initiative towards vehicle crime preventions. The Sold Secure Scheme was actually initiated by Essex police in collaboration with partnership Against Car Theft6. Both the schemes including Sold Secure and Partnership Against Car Theft were integrated with the consolidated effort of Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). The scheme would require vehicle accessory dealers as well as the car dealers registered with the scheme to offer for sale the security devices as recognised by the Sold Secure scheme. It was directed by the scheme to its member dealers to propose Sold Secure recognised appliances to the potential customers before selling any other products. Due to the success of the scheme to curtail car crime by a greater extent, the scheme was launched on a national basis. The primary aim of the Sold Secure scheme was to reduce the instances of vehicle crime and its intensity of damage. Consequently, the objectives behind the launching of the scheme were: To facilitate good practice and prevent any illegal act within the field of auto crime prevention scheme To provide the public with auto crime prevention centres in order to provide them efficient advices and services To constantly evaluate the efficiency of auto security devices To make sure that no private vehicle is being sold in an unprotected state Source: 6 Functioning of the Scheme The Sold Secure scheme is being implemented on a national basis and its functioning is regulated from its head office located at Northumbria Police headquarters. The office is liable for monitoring the day-to-day functioning of the scheme. The office for Sold Secure scheme deals with initiating new members, allocating publicity materials and further this office is involved in activities related with testing of security devices6. Moreover, the scheme is managed by a Chief Executive and four other staffs are responsible for performing certain tasks associated with the functioning of the scheme. Consequently, these four employees are assigned with the tasks of encouraging vehicle accessory and car dealers to join the membership with Sold Secure scheme. Furthermore, the Sold Secure scheme comprises two basic elements namely product evaluation and scheme membership. Contextually, the product evaluation element of the scheme involves critical assessment of the various security devices endorsed or proposed by the scheme. On the other hand, the scheme membership involves in efficiently disseminating relevant information about the products and devices endorsed by the Sold Secure scheme for selling them effectively to the public6. Sold Secure scheme recognised various products as security devices. The twenty most security devices endorsed and installed by Sold Secure scheme are being depicted below. Consequently, the Mul-t-Lock security device has been the sole most commonly installed security device among the top twenty lists of security devices that have been endorsed and installed in the various car models, which accounts for 22.9% of overall installation of security device. Notably, the below listed security devices were installed among the 30 different luxury and expensive car models6. Source: 6 Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s major aim has been the reduction of vehicle crime in the UK including London. In this course, DVLA has taken several initiatives in order to successfully combat with the problem of car crime in the country. Among these initiatives Vehicle Identity Checks (VIC) measure incorporated by DVLA has been viewed as a key initiative of the agency in curtailing car crime7 The VIC scheme was introduced by the Department for Transport in the year 2003. It was identified that every year the UK economy suffers a loss of more than £3bn due to the vehicle crime in the country. Consequently, the scheme was primarily developed to aid against the car crime by preventing criminals from stealing cars and discouraging them from disguising those stolen cars with the identity write-off as accident cars or scrapped vehicles7 Functioning of the Scheme DVLA requires that when an insurance company intends to write-off a car within the salvage groups A, B or C, the owner of the car is required to submit registration document to the insurance company during the time of claim being made. Furthermore, the insurance company will be liable to inform DVLA that the vehicle is being written-off. Contextually, such reporting of the insurance company shall act as a marker on the vehicle record. Eventually, if the vehicle is repaired with an intention to return to the road, DVLA shall not issue registration document unless it passes VIC test. In this relation, VIC scheme helps to confirm the identity of the vehicle and ensures that vehicles intending to return on the road are not stolen vehicles. DVLA performs the task of VIC tests through its two centres located at Lisburn and Londonderry. There are various modes through which the agency can compare the identity of the vehicle against the information preserved by DVLA including the vehicle identification number, model engine number and colour. In addition, vehicle records related with its previous accidents also provide effective criteria for identifying the age and other components in relation to the vehicle. After the successful completion of the identity procedure, inspector examining the vehicle identity conveys the decision relating to the pass or the failure of the vehicle being examined. It is worth mentioning that decision is reached after considering the corroborating evidence. Once the vehicle passes the identification tests, V5C (NI) is issued along with identity checked date and year7. Justification of the Effectiveness of Car Crime Reduction Scheme In order to measure the effectiveness of the scheme, each vehicle registered with Sold Secure scheme were confirmed against the police records in order to identify either the vehicle is stolen or not. Consequently, the worst data with respect to the scheme was collected during January 1994. Contextually, it was witnessed that out of 703 vehicles registered with Sold Secure scheme 13 vehicles were stolen. At the same time, much reliable data were accumulated during the December 1994 in which it was identified that only 13 vehicles were stolen out of 4712 vehicles registered with Sold Secure scheme6. Vehicle Identity Check (VIC) has also emerged as a crucial element in deterring the criminals from stealing cars. With the introduction of VIC scheme, car criminals have been largely discouraged to conduct such unethical practices of stealing cars. Moreover, the scheme of VIC has also led towards preventing false registration of stolen vehicles and has severely contributed towards car crime reductions over the years. Consequently, it can be stated that schemes initiated towards car crime reduction have immensely helped in the overall reduction of car crime and thereby these schemes have destroyed the intention of car criminals of stealing cars and selling its parts as well as exporting to overseas. Evidently, the effectiveness of the schemes can be viewed from the fact that there has been dramatic reduction in car crime in the past few years. Moreover, the statistics as presented earlier also portray the efficiency of these schemes towards curtailing car crime in London along with the UK in contemporary period. Theory of Change for Car Crime Reduction in London, UK Theory of change intends to take the schemes i.e. “Sold Secure scheme” and ‘Vehicle Identity Check” scheme for the evaluation of their efficiency. Contextually, theory of change requires five major steps to be followed namely: 1. ‘Identifying goals and assumptions’ 2. ‘Backwards mapping and connecting outcomes’ 3. ‘Developing indicators’ 4. ‘Identifying interventions’ 5. ‘Writing a narrative’8 Identifying Goals and Assumptions The long-term goal is the prevention of car crime in London as well as the UK as a whole. In order to achieve the stated goals, three pre-conditions have been identified, namely, effective car security, appropriate registration modes and general awareness of public towards the crime. In order to illustrate the importance of the pre-conditions, arrowed lines have been shown that focus on the achievement of final long-term outcome. Assumption and Justification The key assumptions underlying the theory of change for preventing car crime are stated below: A. The effective car securities will lead towards curtailing car crime in the city B. The appropriate registration mode will have the positive impact on addressing the problem of car crime C. General awareness among the public will make them cautious and further they shall ensure that their cars are adequately protected from car thieves D. The increased accountability of registration officers will help to discourage the criminals from performing car crimes The assumptions make it explicit the scheme’s effectiveness and answer the questions such as why these schemes will work. Furthermore, the assumptions clearly state why and how these schemes are different from those initiated beforehand. Backwards Mapping and Connecting Outcomes It is important to identify as to how the pre-conditions, namely, effective car security, appropriate registration modes and general awareness of public established shall be achieved in order to accomplish the long-term goals of car crime prevention as an ultimate outcome. This shall require in identifying what is being needed to achieve the established pre-condition. Source: 6;7 Developing Indicators Outcome: preventing car crime in London Indicator: car security Identifying Interventions The major interventions for the car crime preventions include: 1. Ensuring better and safer car parking related facilities 2. Installing adequate car security devices 3. Establishing secure mode of second-hand car selling by proper verifications of the various documents 4. Placing stringent rules on the export of car parts to overseas The aforesaid interventions are important for accomplishing final outcomes of the schemes. It is equally crucial that each intervention is met in order to discourage criminals from stealing cars and thereby preventing car crime in London. If the schemes Sold Secure Scheme” and ‘Vehicle Identity Check” have to succeed in preventing car crime in London, the interventions stated should be efficiently implemented. Writing Narrative Writing narrative shall aid in identifying the effectiveness of the schemes and also provide ideas about how the initiatives can work as well as the interventions can make change possible8. Summary Evaluation Plan In the recent times, car stealing and selling as well as exporting their parts overseas has emerged as a serious problem in London. The intensity of car crime has attracted likely attentions of general public as well as concerned authorities to a greater extent. Even though in last two decades there has been considerable reduction in car crime, still authorities are unable to curtail the crime completely. Furthermore, it was identified that various factors such as inadequate parking facilities, lack of proper security and lack of general awareness of the local people among others have been the major factors which have led towards strengthening the intentions of car criminals to commit such crimes. In this regard, government bodies along with car manufacturers and other organisations have started various schemes to deter criminals from performing such acts. Consequently, Sold Secure scheme was launched in the year 1992 as an initiative towards curtailing car crime in London along with the entire UK. The scheme was initiated with the objectives to promote good practice within the auto crime reduction premises as well as to provide general advices and services to various car owners. Moreover, the scheme was also determined towards the continuous evaluation of car security facilities along with making it certain that no private vehicle is being sold or exported overseas6 In addition to this, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) also incorporated Vehicle Identity Checks (VIC) in order to combat car crime in London and support Secure Sold scheme in curtailing car crime. Furthermore, VIC scheme makes it mandatory for insurance companies to report vehicle records to VIC authority that would compare the information of those cars which have been written off by insurance companies and are intending to return to road. VIC would issue V5C (NI) if the vehicle passes the tests6. Based on the assumption of ensuring effective car security, the Sold Secure scheme recognised certain products such as Mul-t-Lock, Foxguard V Max 2, Foxguard F14 E/P and Auto Jack 202 among others as security devices and sold them to public (i.e. the car owners). The scheme was determined to achieve the goals of car crime prevention through the installation of aforesaid devices in cars making them safer from criminals intending to steal the cars. Quasi Experimental Design In order to evaluate the efficiency of aforesaid interventions time series design has been used as a quasi experimental design tool. Source: 9 According to the graph presented above, it can be viewed that prior to the commencement of the scheme i.e. before 1992, car crime in the UK was considerably increasing and after the implementation of scheme car crime still continues to increase for the first few years. Consequently, car crime was highest in the UK during the year 1994 but after 1994, car crime has continuously been dropping9. The subsequent fall in car crime can be associated with the intervention of Sold Secure scheme and VIC Scheme. Potential Problems Associated With the Evaluation The evaluation possesses a few limitations that deter the efficiency of the evaluation. In this regard, it can be stated that time series design is appropriate only for certain situations and not in all the circumstances. For example, a time series design, using theft statistics of vehicles as the outcome measures would not be suitable for addressing reduction in car thefts and the export of its part to overseas10. Conclusion Car crime has evolved as a major problem over the years. Every year, millions of cars are stolen and their parts are exported overseas causing significant amount of monetary losses to the national economy. Moreover, it is identified that poor car security and poor parking facility has been the key contributors towards the increasing trend of car theft. In this regard, various schemes were initiated such as Sold Secure and VIC scheme in order to prevent car crime in London and entire the UK. The primary objectives of the schemes were to facilitate good practice in the field of auto crime. At the same time, the aim was also to discourage car criminals from committing crimes such as stealing of cars and selling their parts overseas. Furthermore, the concept of ‘theory of change’ has been used in the study to measure the effectiveness of the schemes. The study strictly follows the steps of theory of change and draws assumptions related with the schemes. Moreover, the study also makes justification of the stated assumptions. Simultaneously, the study also draws interventions for the schemes stated and evaluates the schemes’ efficiency. Responsively, quasi experimental design has been undertaken for evaluating the efficiency of the schemes. Moreover, time series design as a tool of quasi experimental design is undertaken for measuring the reliability and validity of the interventions. Thus, after comparing evidences of car crime prior to the implementation of the schemes with post implementations, it has been identified that interventions of the scheme designed have made considerable changes in the outcome. Consequently, it can be stated that the schemes launched to prevent the car crime were indeed useful in controlling car crime in London. However, still certain enhancements need to be considered by the concerned authorities due to the fact that car criminals have been starting to make use of latest advanced technologies to break the code of vehicle locks. Thus, constant upgradation in the schemes and the security measures need to be ensured to eradicate the bane of car crime from its root. References ActKnowledge and the Aspen Institute Roundtable on Community Change, ‘Theory of Change’ [2003] (Introduction) accessed 05 January 2013. Brown Rick. & Billing Nicola, ‘Tackling Car Crime An Evaluation of Sold Secure’ [1996] (Crime Detection and Prevention Series Paper 71) accessed 05 January 2013. Clarke Ronald V. & Mayhew Pat, ‘Parking Patterns and Car Theft Risks: Policy-Relevant Findings from the British Crime Survey’ [2013] (Introduction) accessed 05 January 2013. Crown, ‘Vehicle identity check (VIC), [2012] (Confirming if a VIC marker is set on a record) accessed 05 January 2013. Houghton George, ‘Car Theft in UK and Wales: The Home Office Car Theft Index’ [1992] (The Car Crime Problem) accessed 05 January 2013. Jansson Krista, ‘British Crime Survey – Measuring Crime For 25 Years’ [2008] (Trends in crime, 1981 to 2005/06) accessed 05 January 2013. London Police Service, ‘Crime Statistics’ [2012] (Historical Comparison) accessed 05 January 2013. Office for National Statistics, ‘Trends in Crime - A Short Story, December 2011’ [2012] (Introduction) accessed 05 January 2013. Travis Alan, ‘Car Crime Falls Key to Historic Low in Crime Rate’ [2011] (Guardian News and Media Limited) accessed 05 January 2013. The Johns Hopkins University and Bertrand Jane, ‘Experimental, Non-experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs’ [2011] (Quasi-experimental designs) accessed 05 January 2013. Read More