Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Car Theft: Rural Areas

Monday 25 November 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Marie Tidball asked about the rise in vehicle thefts and antisocial behaviour in rural areas, questioning the government's support for South Yorkshire police.
  • The Minister responded by mentioning the launch of the national vehicle crime reduction partnership to tackle vehicle crime.
  • Danny Kruger raised concerns about wider agricultural theft and hare coursing, highlighting the issue of organised rural crime in Wiltshire.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marie Tidball Lab Penistone and Stocksbridge
Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security
Context

Car and van thefts, along with antisocial behaviour, have increased in Marie Tidball's constituency. Local residents report feeling unsafe and suffer from excessive 999 response times.

Question

An increase in car and van thefts and antisocial behaviour has left my constituents feeling vulnerable and unsafe. How is the Minister tackling the rise in vehicle thefts, working with manufacturers to improve vehicle safety and supporting South Yorkshire police after years of Conservative cuts?

Answer from Diana R. Johnson

The national vehicle crime reduction partnership has been launched this autumn, bringing together the police, Home Office, and manufacturers to tackle vehicle crime. Legislation will be introduced to ban electronic devices used for theft, empowering police and courts to address criminals using, manufacturing, and supplying such devices.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Supporting South Yorkshire Police following budget cuts

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Q2 Marie Tidball Lab Penistone and Stocksbridge
Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security
Context

Car and van thefts, along with antisocial behaviour, have increased in Marie Tidball's constituency. Local residents report feeling unsafe and suffer from excessive 999 response times.

Question

An increase in car and van thefts and antisocial behaviour has left my constituents feeling vulnerable and unsafe. How is the Minister tackling the rise in vehicle thefts, working with manufacturers to improve vehicle safety and supporting South Yorkshire police after years of Conservative cuts?

Answer from Diana R. Johnson

The national vehicle crime reduction partnership has been launched this autumn, bringing together the police, Home Office, and manufacturers to tackle vehicle crime. Legislation will be introduced to ban electronic devices used for theft, empowering police and courts to address criminals using, manufacturing, and supplying such devices.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Supporting South Yorkshire Police following budget cuts

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Q3 Danny Kruger Reform East Wiltshire
Crime & Law Enforcement Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Farmers in Wiltshire are experiencing an increase in vehicle theft and wider agricultural theft, including the practice of hare coursing. These crimes are often linked to serious organised crime.

Question

Farmers in Wiltshire complain not just about car theft, which is endemic, but wider agricultural theft, too, and the terrible scourge of hare coursing. Does the Minister recognise the seriousness of organised rural crime of this nature?

Answer from Diana R. Johnson

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. I recently met with the Agricultural Engineers Association to discuss the implementation of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, which is crucial in tackling rural crime involving stolen agricultural equipment often by organised gangs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific steps mentioned beyond meeting and discussing the act

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