Industry and police partnership to beat car fraud

Potential fraudsters are being warned that the finance industry has teamed up with a specialist police unit to crack down on cases of car finance fraud, at a time when attempted fraud is on the increase.

The Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) has been working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to tackle motor fraud and wider financial crime since September 2007.

The ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) is this week launching Car Crime Awareness Week (17-23 May) to raise awareness of this type of organised crime and help car buyers to protect themselves. AVCIS is dedicated to investigating and recovering fraudulently-obtained vehicles, and bringing offenders to justice. To date, the unit has made 236 arrests and recovered more than 1700 vehicles, with a value exceeding £33.2 million. Acting as the eyes and ears for the police, contributing finance companies are able to report suspected fraudulent cases to the unit for investigation and recovery.

Paul Harrison, Head of Motor Finance at the FLA, said: “The FLA is pleased to support the first-ever Car Crime Awareness Week. Crime committed against finance companies affects the motor industry and its customers. By working with the police, finance companies are able to detect and prosecute fraudsters, and recover their cars. If these stolen cars had not been recovered then lenders losses may have been passed onto law-abiding customers through higher interest rates.”

Head of AVCIS, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Hooper, added: “Our partners, such as the FLA are instrumental in helping us reduce vehicle theft and related offences, but this can only happen by removing cars as an asset for criminals. Car Crime Awareness Week has been established as an annual reminder for motorists to be vigilant, in order to prevent becoming a victim of crime. "