To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often she receives reports from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) in relation to its (a) activity and (b) performance; how many individuals and companies were licensed by the SIA for the immobilisation, restriction and removal of vehicles in (i) Wansbeck constituency, (ii) Northumberland and (iii) the UK in each year since 2003; how many complaints were received about such individuals and companies; and how many of these were upheld and resulted in licences being suspended or withdrawn.[Official Report, 12 June 2008, Vol. 477, c. 3MC.] (203638)

In line with the arrangements that exist with all non-departmental public bodies, the Department receives regular updates on performance and activities. The SIA also keeps its stakeholders updated through, for example, its website.

The SIA issues licences to individual wheel clampers, and not to companies. SIA licence numbers are not recorded at constituency or county level. Since 2003, the SIA has issued the following numbers of vehicle immobilisation licences in each year:

The number of individuals who held valid vehicle immobilisation licences as at 19 May 2008 was 1,207.

Information about the number of complaints made about vehicle immobilisers is not available. In general, however, most complaints received by the SIA about vehicle immobilisation concern issues such as signage, fees and other areas which are outside the control of the SIA. All other complaints need police substantiation and are dealt with confidentially by the SIA’s intelligence section.

To date a total of 10 vehicle immobilisation licences have been revoked. It is not possible to say how many of these were revoked as a direct consequence of complaints received from members of the public.