Police issue charges in less than 7% of UK car crime cases

The poor police response to spiralling UK car crime has been highlighted in newly released FOI figures

Police chase

Just 6.7 per cent of the 396,000 reported vehicle crime incidents between 2019 and 2022 resulted in a suspect being charged, figures released by 39 UK police forces in response to a freedom of information request have revealed.

The reported crimes, which include theft of or theft from, a vehicle, have a staggeringly low clear-up rate, and in almost 70 per cent of cases police say they were unable to even identify a suspect. Because the Greater Manchester, Humberside, Staffordshire and West Midlands forces failed to respond to the FOI request made by dash cam retailer Nextbase, the shockingly low percentage of criminal charges may not even reflect the true scale of the problem.

Nextbase, which says a lack of video evidence is one of the reasons police can’t find the villains concerned, also commissioned a survey of 2,000 British drivers to determine what sort of security measures are being adopted in the face of rising levels of car crime.

51 per cent of respondents say they rely on a car alarm, while 25 per cent say they always park their car where they can see it. 23 per cent keep their key fob away from windows and doors while at home, in order to prevent remote theft, while 17 per cent of drivers claim to have a dash cam. Six per cent of drivers say they don’t take any particular measures to keep their cars safe.

Nextbase is highlighting the lack of effective policing around car theft and related crime in order to promote its new generation of products that work like video doorbells, recording footage of anyone breaking into or tampering with your car, and immediately backing it up online.

“This is the first time this kind of technology has made it to dash cams, allowing anybody to protect their vehicle with the kind of security homes have recently gained,” says Nextbase spokesman Bryn Brooker. “Eventually this kind of technology will make stealing a car unviable. For now, it will help police track down more of these criminals and stop these thefts from happening in the first place.”

Click here for our list of the best (and worst) police cars...

Current affairs and features editor

Chris covers all aspects of motoring life for Auto Express. Over a long career he has contributed news and car reviews to brands such as Autocar, WhatCar?, PistonHeads, Goodwood and The Motor Trader.

Recommended

Electric car registrations slow despite overall new car sales growth
SMMT new car registration - total for November 2023
News

Electric car registrations slow despite overall new car sales growth

Pure-electric car take-up was steady in November 2023 with plug-in hybrids surging in popularity
5 Dec 2023
UK car thefts hit an all-time high with keyless car tech to blame
Thief breaking in to car
News

UK car thefts hit an all-time high with keyless car tech to blame

Car theft is at record levels in the UK according to data from LV insurance
4 Dec 2023
UK firm fitting ‘pop bang’ aftermarket exhausts fined in landmark court case
MINI Hatch exhaust
News

UK firm fitting ‘pop bang’ aftermarket exhausts fined in landmark court case

A successful court action against a workshop advertising and fitting non-standard exhaust parts is ‘a lesson for businesses’ from the DVSA
23 Nov 2023
Why is electric car insurance so expensive? EV vs ICE cost analysis
BMW iX3
News

Why is electric car insurance so expensive? EV vs ICE cost analysis

We look into claims that electric cars face higher insurance premiums than ICE equivalents
22 Nov 2023

Most Popular

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’
Opinion - Fiat Scudo
Opinion

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’

With some huge savings to be had, Mike Rutherford thinks a van could be the perfect vehicle
3 Dec 2023
New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates
Renault 5 EV concept at 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
News

New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates

Renault’s reborn Renault 5 will start from €25,000 in Europe, suggesting a circa-£30k price in the UK. It's due on sale in the summer of 2024. Here's …
1 Dec 2023
Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month
Skoda Superb Estate - front tracking
News

Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month

The Superb is one of our favourite estates and our Deal of the Day for Monday 4 December
4 Dec 2023