Combatting Vehicle Theft in the UK: Strategies Against Organised Crime
This project assesses and evaluates responses to the contemporary threat posed by vehicle theft in the UK.
Vehicle theft in the UK has risen significantly over the last decade, with Home Office statistics indicating an increase of over 80% in the number of vehicles stolen in England and Wales from 2013 to 2023.
Various stakeholders, including researchers, law enforcement agencies, and the media, have observed a trend towards the professionalisation of this serious form of crime, highlighting the use of increasingly advanced theft technologies and the globalisation of stolen vehicle exports. As the scale and methods of vehicle theft evolve, there are growing concerns regarding the extent of criminal organisation involved.
Our project aims to address these issues by bridging the knowledge gap related to the organised criminal dynamics that facilitate this type of crime, and by examining collaborative responses from both the private and public sectors to mitigate this threat.
Project team
Aims and objectives
We seek to generate evidence-based, actionable recommendations through exploring the following key questions:
- How has vehicle theft in the UK evolved in recent years and what role have organised criminal dynamics played in these developments?
- Why has the rise in vehicle theft been more pronounced in the UK than elsewhere?
- Where does the UK sit within international supply chains for stolen vehicles and parts?
- What has been the nature of the response, how effective has this been?
- What operational, policy and other options exist to address the issue and how should key sectors work together to tackle this expanding form of organised criminality?
Project outputs
To enhance the effectiveness of responses to organised vehicle theft, our project aims to produce a paper under RUSI’s Emerging Insights series. Researchers will promote dialogue among various policymakers and practitioners, fostering a comprehensive approach to vehicle theft that considers multiple perspectives. These cross-sector activities will also support the distribution of findings to pertinent regional and national stakeholders.
