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Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill - Sitting 1

01 February 2023

Proposing MP
Peter Bone Con
Wellingborough
Type
Public Bill Committee

At a Glance

Issue Summary

The statement discusses the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill, which aims to prevent the theft of all-terrain vehicles and other agricultural machinery. The statement discusses the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill, focusing on measures to prevent the theft and antisocial use of all-terrain vehicles like quad bikes. The statement discusses the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill introduced by the Member for Buckingham, addressing the theft of agricultural machinery, particularly quad bikes and ATVs. The statement discusses the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill, which aims to combat ATV theft in agricultural communities and proposes expanding the scope to include other agricultural equipment and tradespeople's tools. The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill is being discussed in the Public Bill Committee.

Action Requested

The MP proposes that the Home Secretary be given powers through secondary legislation to require immobilisers and forensic marking on new ATVs. The measures are expected to make stolen vehicles harder to sell, deterring theft. The Bill also provides flexibility for future extension of these provisions to cover additional equipment through secondary legislation.

Key Facts

  • An estimated 900 to 1,200 quad bikes and ATVs are stolen in England and Wales each year.
  • Between December 2022 and January 2023, 147 quad bikes and 248 pieces of heavy plant were stolen across England and Wales.
  • The Bill gives the Home Secretary power to make regulations requiring immobilisers and forensic marking on new ATVs.
  • Forensic marking allows police to identify a vehicle easily using hand-held scanners or UV torches.
  • The Bill aims to prevent the theft of quad bikes and other ATVs.
  • Immobilisers and unique keys are critical to preventing theft and antisocial use.
  • Clause 3 includes enforcement measures with unlimited fines for non-compliance.
  • Trading standards officers will have powers to issue fines under schedule 5 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
  • The Bill will extend to England and Wales, coming into force six months after Royal Assent.
  • The NFU estimates that quad bike theft costs £2.2 million annually in 2021.
  • Theft from agricultural equipment resulted in a further £7 million claims to NFU Mutual in 2021.
  • Around 900 to 1,200 quad bikes are stolen every year according to NFU Mutual's most recent crime report.
  • The total cost of all lost tools and equipment is estimated at about £15 million a year by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
  • The Bill will be enacted via secondary legislation for ATVs.
  • Work on developing statutory instruments for ATVs is ongoing.
  • Home Office officials are working on extending the scope to other agricultural equipment and tradespeople's tools.
  • The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill is under review.
  • The bill will be reported without amendment.
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