May proved to be a busy and important month for the NVCRP, from engaging with the policing minister and Canadian law enforcement discussing the national strategic dimensions of organised vehicle crime to supporting on the ground crime prevention activity.
Mark Kameen, the NVCRP lead was invited to attend a private briefing with Dame Diana Johnson, the Policing Minister, to highlight the scale and complexity of organised vehicle crime.
Recognising the need to strengthen the collective response to vehicle crime, this was a valuable opportunity to discuss some of the current challenges policing face in responding to organised vehicle crime and the role organisations like the NVCRP working with private sector partners can play in supporting law enforcement to tackle the issue.
Following the private briefing, Mark took part in a round table chaired by the policing minister involving key law enforcement partners including the National Crime Agency (NCA), UK Border Force, NaVCIS, Opal SOAC and the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for vehicle crime, Assistant Chief Constable Jennifer Sims.
The briefing and round table resulted in a number of actions as well as conversations around future private/public funding relationships and an ask of the UK Home Office for additional funding in this space to support intelligence development, investigation and enforcement. The policing minister has committed to hold a follow up roundtable to continue these important discussions.
The same day Mark went on to meet with other law enforcement agencies Opal SOAC, NaVCIS and the UK Home Office at the Canadian Embassy. The discussion centred around law enforcement's approach to tackling organised vehicle crime with a focus on tactics to disrupt stolen vehicles being exported in shipping containers at ports.
The NVCRP fully recognises the scale of vehicle crime and its impact on victims, communities and the UK economy and this was a key theme in both meetings.
NVCRP Tackling Motorcycle Crime
The annual motorcycle race, the Isle of Man TT, attracts around 40,000 visitors from around the world, bringing with them around 14,000 motorcycles.
In response, Merseyside Police, supported by the NVCRP, launched Op Needle, a policing initiative in Liverpool, focused on preventing motorcycle theft and ensuring the safety of visitors as part of the Isle of Man TT.
The NVCRP, alongside the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) and the Motorcycle Action Group Foundation, supported Merseyside Police to deliver practical measures that enhance rider security and deter thefts, by funding physical deterrents, deploying detection technology and supporting hotel-based bike chain hire.
Talking about the operation Mark Kameen, NVCRP Project Lead, said: “Supporting safer motorcycle parking during the Isle of Man TT is a great example of what can be achieved through an effective partnership response.
“The NVCRP are proud to be partnering with Merseyside Police, the Motorcycle Action Group Foundation and the British Motorcyclists Federation, to help ensure riders can enjoy Liverpool with greater peace of mind.
“Motorcyclists can sometimes be overlooked when tackling organised vehicle crime, so I’m delighted to see the efforts Merseyside Police are taking with this initiative.
“It is vital that we continue to invest in motorcycle safety and security and this is another positive example of how public/private sector funding initiatives can provide real benefits in tackling organised vehicle crime.”
Join the NVCRP
In May the NVCRP continued to grow as more members joined us to share ideas and opportunities in how they can work more closely together in the fight against organised vehicle crime. This is everyone’s problem and we can’t expect or hope that policing alone will resolve the issues we face with vehicle crime. The NVCRP provides that platform for partnership working, idea sharing and innovative responses.
This month the NVCRP welcomed Inn-Track as a new member. Inn-Track provide advanced covert vehicle tracking. They work alongside the UK Police service and a host of leading insurers, including Aviva and Hiscox.
To find out more about becoming a member of the NVCRP please visit our website:
Become a Member - NVCRP