Written question asked by John Bercow (Conservative) on Friday, 12 September 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 October 2003. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Monday, 6 October 2003 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what evaluation has been made of the impact of the pilot exercises, using the DVLA database to communicate car crime prevention measures. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation has been made of the impact of the pilot exercises, using the DVLA database to communicate car crime prevention measures. [130509] Ms Blears: The initiative was piloted in parts of Bristol, Coventry and Middlesbrough local authority areas for 12 weeks from 28 October 2002. Vehicle crime figures for the precise areas covered by the pilots are not available. But figures for larger areas covering central Bristol and Middlesbrough showed reductions of 22 per cent. and 23 per cent. respectively in the period November 2002-January 2003 when the pilots were running. Coventry's vehicle crime figures showed no change. Recipients of car crime prevention advice in the pilots were sent questionnaires seeking their views on the exercise. A total of 627 recipients responded and 95 per cent. of the responses were supportive. The Association of Chief Police Officers, the Local Government Association and the three local authorities involved all thought the initiative was worthwhile and should be expanded.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 130509; 410 c1253-4W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Databases Crime prevention Crime Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Pilot schemes Motor vehicles
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk