Vehicle thefts and recovery rates from 2018 to 2022
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.027819
I note you seek access to the following information:
1. Please provide the number of stolen car reports your force has received over the last five years. Please categorise the results by calendar years as so:
(a) 2022 (b) 2021 (c) 2020 (d) 2019 (e) 2018. Where the 2022 stats will not be complete, please provide the date they go up to.
2. For each of these years please provide figures for how many reported stolen cars were successfully recovered. As above, please categorise these figures by (a) 2022 (b) 2021 (c) 2020 (d) 2019 and (e) 2018.
3. If the cost limit for this request has not yet been reached, please provide figures for how many of the reportedly stolen vehicles mentioned in the prior question were recovered by the force and officers itself, rather than by another party (the victim, a third party employed by the victim, neighbours, through social media etc). As above, please provide figures for the last five calendar years.
4. If the cost limit for this request has still not been reached, could you please provide figures for how many reportedly stolen vehicles were recovered by the victim, a third party employed by them or someone who made contact with them rather than the police force. As above, please provide figures for the last five calendar years.
5. If the cost limit has still not been reached, please provide figures for how many stolen car reports resulted in charges being bought against a suspect. As above, please provide figures for the last five calendar years.
6. If the cost limit has still not been reached, how many stolen car reports have resulted in convictions. As above, please provide figures for the last five calendar years.
Clarification -
1. Please provide the number of stolen car reports your force has received over the last five years. Please categorise the results by calendar years as so:
(a) 2022 (b) 2021 (c) 2020 (d) 2019 (e) 2018. Where the 2022 stats will not be complete, please provide the date they go up to.
2. For each of these years please provide figures for how many reported stolen cars were successfully recovered. As above, please categorise these figures by (a) 2022 (b) 2021 (c) 2020 (d) 2019 and (e) 2018.
5. If the cost limit has still not been reached, please provide figures for how many stolen car reports resulted in charges being bought against a suspect. As above, please provide figures for the last five calendar years.
6. If the cost limit has still not been reached, how many stolen car reports have resulted in convictions. As above, please provide figures for the last five calendar years.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - Please provide the number of stolen car reports your force has received over the last five years. Please categorise the results by calendar years as so:
(a) 2022 (b) 2021 (c) 2020 (d) 2019 (e) 2018. Where the 2022 stats will not be complete, please provide the date they go up to.
Q2 - For each of these years please provide figures for how many reported stolen cars were successfully recovered. As above, please categorise these figures by (a) 2022 (b) 2021 (c) 2020 (d) 2019 and (e) 2018.
Q5 - If the cost limit has still not been reached, please provide figures for how many stolen car reports resulted in charges being bought against a suspect. As above, please provide figures for the last five calendar years.
For the MPS response to questions 1, 2 and 5 above please see the below Excel Spreadsheet:
Q6 - If the cost limit has still not been reached, how many stolen car reports have resulted in convictions. As above, please provide figures for the last five calendar years.
Conviction data is not held by the MPS. The police service is responsible for the investigation of offences however the subsequent prosecution and potentially a conviction would be a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.
To make a request to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) please see the details below:
Requests may be made by email to [email protected] or in writing to:
Information Access Team Crown
Prosecution Service
102 Petty France
London SW1H 9EA