RUSI welcomed representatives from across law enforcement, the UK government and the private sector for an expert roundtable on the trends in and responses to organised vehicle theft in the UK.
Earlier this month, RUSI hosted a diverse range of law enforcement officials, private sector representatives and academics at 61 Whitehall to discuss the contemporary threat posed by vehicle theft and potential solutions to improve cross-sector responses.
The roundtable, which was chaired by RUSI Research Fellow Elijah Glantz, began with analysis of the recent evolution of this crime type, before turning to an exploration of possible responses from the wide range of stakeholders affected by recent increases in the number of vehicles stolen in the UK.
The inter-agency, cross-sector dialogue focused on themes including the differences between vehicle theft today and similar crimes recorded during previous decades, the international smuggling of stolen cars and their parts, and the need for a holistic response that can be implemented given the broader context in which UK law enforcement faces significant resource constraints.
Reflecting on the importance of the roundtable, Elijah Glantz notes:
The Expert Roundtable represented another step in the right direction in the response against organised vehicle theft in the UK. Amid public-sector resource challenges and siloed working, the cross-sector discourse enabled conversations to focus on cost-effective, sustainable and strategic responses to the threat.
Elijah Glantz
Research Fellow
The findings and recommendations from this lively and informed discussion will contribute to RUSI’s upcoming report on vehicle theft in the UK, which is expected to be published in spring 2025.
The Organised Crime and Policing Research Group
RUSI’s Organised Crime and Policing research group aims to deliver high-quality and meaningful research, policy and capacity-building activities on crime, policing, and environmental and climate security, including where they intersect. The group’s work seeks to stimulate dialogue and support positive change in efforts by governments, civil society and the private sector to combat organised crime, corruption, police violence and environmental harms.