NCJ Number
206026
Date Published
2004
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings from an assessment of the operation of the United Kingdom's National Criminal Intelligence Service's (NCIS's) Organized Vehicle Crime Program, which was established to develop intelligence information related to countering organized vehicle crime.
Abstract
The Organized Vehicle Crime Program has been operated by the Organized Vehicle Crime Section (OVCS) of the NCIS. The program consisted of three projects established to address "ringing" and "cloning," organized motorcycle theft, and the export of stolen vehicles. "Ringing" refers to the theft and subsequent recycling of a stolen vehicle back into the legitimate market by changing the identity of the vehicle. "Cloning" is a method of conducting "ringing" that involves re-registering a vehicle by copying the identity of a similar (nonstolen) vehicle already on the road. These projects were completed in December 2002, although additional funding in 2003 allowed the program to develop into new areas. This assessment of the program found that between January 2001 and December 2002, the OVCS received 334 "intelligence logs" (pieces of information) and intelligence (processed data). A total of 711 logs were given to law enforcement agencies. Between July 2001 and December 2002, 42 law enforcement organizations received intelligence logs from OVCS. A total of 45 intelligence "outputs," often reports that analyzed intelligence logs, were disseminated under the auspices of the program; 59 percent were estimated to have been acted upon by the agencies receiving them. During the course of the evaluation, 19 arrests that resulted in charges were made by law enforcement organizations; an additional 18 were arrested and posted bail pending further inquiries. A total of 550 vehicles were recovered in police operations with which the program was associated. An estimated 713 vehicle thefts were prevented, estimated to involve a saving of 2.7 million pounds. Three case studies that tracked the crime-reduction impact of program operations each showed a positive effect, although the extent of the impact varied. Cost-benefit analyses (taking into account police overtime costs) of two operations found varying results; both led to vehicle crime reduction, but the cost of one operation far exceeded the value of vehicle crime reduced. The second operation yielded a positive cost-benefit ratio. 4 tables and 2 references