Leading the fight against vehicle enabled crime

When people consider car crime, thefts from and thefts of vehicles immediately spring to mind; but with improved vehicle security, offences have fallen by 66 per cent since 1995 (1) However, car crime has not gone away; criminals have changed their methods, using illegal finance and leasing scams, or more startlingly, car-jacking to earn a living. AVCIS, the Association of Chief Police Officers Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, was formed to tackle the widening remit of 'vehicle enabled crime'.

"Virtually all crime involves the use of a vehicle," says Head of Unit, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Lambotte. "AVCIS was launched in December 2006 to look more closely at the use of vehicles as a crime enabler. Its remit covers all methods of using vehicles in the support of crime. DCI Lambotte continues, "AVCIS provides a dedicated team of experienced individuals with fraud and vehicle crime expertise.

Without other policing demands to draw on resources, or force boundaries restricting operational activity,AVCIS is able to work proactively, using police intelligence to locate and recover stolen vehicles and prosecute offenders.
Currently, the UK has a poor recovery rate for stolen vehicles, only recovering approximately 51 per cent. However,
through increasing awareness, AVCIS aims to change this and reduce the amount of vehicle thefts and related crimes."

DCI Lambotte has extensive experience in policing, having started his career in the Metropolitan Police in 1984, before developing an interest in organized vehicle crime. After assisting in the formation of AVCIS, DCI Lambotte was promoted to Head of Unit, where he continues to tackle a subject he feels passionately about.

"AVCIS continues to deal with issues that are generally considered low priority," explains DCI Lambotte. "However, vehicle enabled crime is a constant drain on the country's finances, with road freight crime costing the UK economy up to £1 billion annually. TruckPol, a specialist division of AVCIS, was formed to deal solely with this problem.

Supported by industry stakeholders, TruckPol collates statistical data and intelligence on UK road freight crime, regularly distributing warnings to areas being targeted by organised criminals.

"AVCIS is also strengthening its international links and developing ports' intelligence in order to prevent the export of stolen vehicles, which can be used as currency for narcotics, or to fund organised crime, including terrorism.
As vehicles are easy to transport and carry more lenient penalties than cash if caught, they are often the currency of choice for criminals.

"Vehicles are required to enable the crime to be committed," concludes DCI Lambotte. "AVCIS' role is to tackle these issues through removing the use of vehicles, and to drive down the rate of vehicle enabled crime." Through its various activities, including TruckPol and the Vehicle Fraud Unit, AVCIS has recovered in excess of 1200 vehicles, worth over £30 million, and has made 190 arrests (2)

(1) British Crime Survey (BCS), Crime in
England and Wales 2007/08.

(2) AVCIS data on file. Correct as of
07/01/09.