Government to ban vehicle theft equipment

Possession and distribution of electronic devices used in vehicle theft to carry maximum five-year sentence

Government to ban vehicle theft equipment

The government is introducing new laws to ban the possession and distribution of electronic devices used in vehicle theft, such as signal jammers and keyless repeaters.

This measure aims to combat the use of sophisticated electronic devices, which are implicated in 40% of vehicle thefts in England and Wales.

Under the new legislation, individuals found in possession of, or involved in the import, manufacture, adaptation, or distribution of these devices could face a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

The burden of proof will shift to the owner of the device to demonstrate a legitimate purpose, rather than requiring the police to prove its use in a specific crime.

The legislation is part of the government’s Crime and Policing Bill and its Plan for Change to protect neighbourhoods.

Minister for Policing, Crime and Fire Prevention, Dame Diana Johnson, stated that the new laws will address the issue at its source and prevent these devices from reaching criminals.

The government will also continue to work with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership.

According to the 2022-2023 Crime Survey for England and Wales, 40% of vehicle thefts involve the manipulation of signals from remote locking devices. In the year ending September 2024, there were 732,000 incidents of vehicle-related theft.

The Metropolitan Police Service estimates that signal jammers are used in approximately 60% of vehicle thefts in London.

Organised crime groups are heavily involved in vehicle theft, exploiting vulnerabilities in vehicle security systems.

The RAC and AA have welcomed the new legislation, highlighting the impact of vehicle theft on individuals and the need to address the use of signal jammers. The National Police Chiefs’ Council also supports the measure, stating that these devices have no legitimate purpose.

Source: Gov.uk

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