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15/11/2002
Crime reduced in 'Operation Clean-Up'
The police have claimed that crime in the Greater Belfast area has been "significantly reduced" as a result of a three months’ pilot scheme aimed at removing sub-standard unlicensed cars from the city’s streets.
Due to 'Operation Clean-Up', police believe that arson on cars was reduced by a quarter and other serious crimes were prevented as many of the vehicles removed would commonly be targeted for use by criminals.
During the operation, instead of vehicles being clamped, cars were immediately removed from the streets to a car pound at Newtownbreda to avoid the vehicle either being illegally removed from the clamp, vandalised or burned.
A total of 934 vehicles were seized between March and June, and of these, 139 were reclaimed by their owners upon payment of an impoundment fee and proof of ownership. A further 782 vehicles were destroyed after the statutory time limits had expired and the remaining vehicles were either auctioned, returned to their owners or were held pending further action.
Following the operation, an analysis of specified crime areas was undertaken and compared to areas not involved in the operation. The results showed that arson of vehicles was reduced by up to 23%, and cars scrapped by councils were reduced by 32%. Also, the analysis show: significant reductions in thefts of petrol from forecourts; reductions in domestic burglaries within the target areas; reductions in thefts from, and of cars; and reductions in road traffic collisions. Of all the cars seized, some 83% were also discovered to be uninsured.
Chief Inspector Mark Mason, Head of the PSNI Crime Prevention Unit, said: “Many of these vehicles were known to be involved in crime on a daily basis. By removing such a large number from daily circulation, crime figures have been positively affected.
“Furthermore, the users of such vehicles have been shown to display a huge disregard for the law in terms of unlicensed and uninsured use and appear to be involved in a disproportionate number of road traffic collisions. Any reduction in the number of accidents, together with any reduction in crime levels, must, therefore, be applauded."
The scheme was the result of partnership between the PSNI, the DVLNI, DRD Roads Service, Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh Councils, the Fire Brigade and the Northern Ireland Office and ran from March to June of this year.
(GMcG)
Due to 'Operation Clean-Up', police believe that arson on cars was reduced by a quarter and other serious crimes were prevented as many of the vehicles removed would commonly be targeted for use by criminals.
During the operation, instead of vehicles being clamped, cars were immediately removed from the streets to a car pound at Newtownbreda to avoid the vehicle either being illegally removed from the clamp, vandalised or burned.
A total of 934 vehicles were seized between March and June, and of these, 139 were reclaimed by their owners upon payment of an impoundment fee and proof of ownership. A further 782 vehicles were destroyed after the statutory time limits had expired and the remaining vehicles were either auctioned, returned to their owners or were held pending further action.
Following the operation, an analysis of specified crime areas was undertaken and compared to areas not involved in the operation. The results showed that arson of vehicles was reduced by up to 23%, and cars scrapped by councils were reduced by 32%. Also, the analysis show: significant reductions in thefts of petrol from forecourts; reductions in domestic burglaries within the target areas; reductions in thefts from, and of cars; and reductions in road traffic collisions. Of all the cars seized, some 83% were also discovered to be uninsured.
Chief Inspector Mark Mason, Head of the PSNI Crime Prevention Unit, said: “Many of these vehicles were known to be involved in crime on a daily basis. By removing such a large number from daily circulation, crime figures have been positively affected.
“Furthermore, the users of such vehicles have been shown to display a huge disregard for the law in terms of unlicensed and uninsured use and appear to be involved in a disproportionate number of road traffic collisions. Any reduction in the number of accidents, together with any reduction in crime levels, must, therefore, be applauded."
The scheme was the result of partnership between the PSNI, the DVLNI, DRD Roads Service, Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh Councils, the Fire Brigade and the Northern Ireland Office and ran from March to June of this year.
(GMcG)
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