The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has produced a policy on Police Response to Security Systems, which includes vehicle tracking devices which may be fitted to any vehicles, including goods vehicles.
Companies operating tracking systems compliant with this ACPO policy have direct lines into police control rooms and are issued with a unique reference number. Such compliant systems give reliable real time information on the movement and location of stolen vehicles and this gives the police confidence to allocate a priority response subject to other operational demands at the time.
When a stolen vehicle does not have a tracking device or has one that does not comply with the requirements of the ACPO policy, the owner will have to report the crime to the police and the level of police response will depend not only on other operational priorities at the time but also on the quality of information received.