Essex Police work with the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership to target vehicle crime

As part of work to tackle vehicle theft, Essex Police continue to work with partners such as the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership (NVCRP) to target vehicle crime and respond swiftly to this increasingly organised crime type, regularly delivering targeted policing activities, identifying those involved in the force’s priority crime and preventing and detecting vehicle theft offences.

As a result of this hard work, Essex Police had almost 7% less vehicle thefts, meaning 397 less victims of crime in the 12-month period ending in February and are also solving more crime too. In fact, we’ve solved 50% more vehicle theft offences in the last year compared to the previous 12 months.

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Blakesley said:
Across the country, vehicle crime is a growing problem and here in Essex we’re focussing on the organised crime aspect in an effort to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks responsible for vehicle thefts. Collaborating with like-minded partners such as the NVCRP who share our ambition to combat vehicle theft creates a coordinated effort to tackle the issue that’s more likely to succeed. Crime doesn’t have borders, and neither do we. By sharing intelligence with other forces and partners, we can focus on those who create the most harm within our communities and strike at the heart of any organised crime group. Consistency and commitment is key to our success.

Last month, a snapshot showing the kind of work undertaken by Essex Police’s Road Crime Team resulted in six arrests, three stolen vehicles being recovered and the seizure of an uninsured vehicle, in just one shift (Thursday 20 March).

This one-day operation was supported by NVCRP and shows the lengths offenders will go to in order to remain undetected or evade arrest.

In the early hours of the morning of 21 March, officers picked up a speeding VW Polo in Chigwell, reported to have failed to stop for police the previous day.

Officers pursued the car that reached 125mph southbound on M11, and with the help of colleagues from the National Police Air Support, tracked the car to Tottenham, North London, where Met Police colleagues detained the suspect after he abandoned the car.

The 25-year-old from Enfield was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and failing to stop. Enquiries showed the driver held a provisional licence and he was further arrested on suspicion of going equipped for theft of a motor vehicle.
DCI Blakesley said, “Officers conduct thorough roadside enquiries to ensure that the criminal use of our roads is halted.”

Thanks to observant officers who spotted a stolen car on the back of a low loader, two men were arrested in connection with its theft by means of a burglary in Kent just two hours earlier. Our Road Crime Team participated in a short, authorised pursuit and despite the driver and passenger trying to run off, the pair were detained and arrested on suspicion of theft of the Mercedes car.

In a second incident, a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft of car when a Land Rover Discovery was stopped on A127 at Basildon and officers discovered it to be on false plates.

A further patrol of an industrial site saw an arrest of a 38-year-old man on suspicion of burglary after the theft of three gas bottles.

DCI Blakesley added:
We’re here to stop vehicle thefts and the criminal use of our roads: anyone who thinks that they can come to Essex and avoid detection is wrong.
We’ll continue this important work using all our available resources and holding dedicated operations to ensure that we stop those people intent on vehicle thefts.
We can’t do this work alone and will continue to work with partners and neighbouring forces and I’d ask the public to help by telling us of anyone who is stealing cars in Essex and by following some simple crime prevention advice.

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