PSNI and victims group team up to tackle car crime

The PSNI's Auto Crime Team and Families Bereaved Through Car Crime have joined forces in an effort to reduce car crime in west Belfast and Dunmurry.

Starting today, leaflets promoting the Auto Crime Hotline will be delivered to 35,000 homes in the area.

Under the heading ‘Car Crime -Together we can tackle it’, the leaflet encourages local people to report instances of car crime in the area using the hotline number 028 9061 0202.

Speaking about the leaflet drop, Superintendent Gerry Murray, Lisburn DCU, said: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to work with the Bereaved Families on this initiative. I hope that with their help we will be able to reach more people in Twinbrook, Lagmore, Poleglass and the greater west Belfast areas. I am sure that with the support of the local people, we can really make a difference and enhance community safety for the benefit of everyone.”

The Auto Crime Team (ACT) is operated jointly by Lisburn and West Belfast District Command Units and consists of 11 police officers based at Dunmurry Police Station. Set up in July 2002, the team works closely with police analysts to focus operations on auto crime hotspots and trends.

Welcoming the start of the new initiative, Tommy Holland of the campaign group Families Bereaved Through Car Crime, said: “The members of our group realise the importance of an holistic approach to car crime. The consequences of the actions of car thieves can lead to lives being destroyed and families left devastated. We believe a multi-agency approach is needed on this issue and statutory, social and community agencies need to co-ordinate approaches to this problem. We welcome the input from the Auto Crime Team.”

In total 1,257 stolen vehicles have been recovered in west Belfast since the start of April last year. This represents 23% of all the vehicles recovered after being reported stolen across all of Northern Ireland. Of all vehicles reported stolen in the Province 7.2% are stolen in west Belfast.

The team has made 167 arrests since its inception in July and has recovered 105 cars. During the year 2000/2001 theft of vehicles from within West Belfast DCU showed a 32.5% reduction. In the current year 2002/2003 the positive trend shows signs of continuing with a 26% reduction so far.

(GMcG)