To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to tackle car cloning in London. (272717)

The Metropolitan police service has a well established and successful Stolen Vehicle Unit, and it has had considerable success working with other partners to tackle vehicle crime, including cloning, in London.

The Home Office is also committed to supporting the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS), which has a national role in tackling vehicle crime, including sharing intelligence with forces. It works closely with regionally based police colleagues, including the Metropolitan police, in relation to vehicle crime.

The efforts that we have made in partnership with police and colleagues in the vehicle insurance, vehicle manufacturing and other areas has proved successful.

From 1997 to 2007-08 we have seen a reduction of 66 per cent. in vehicle crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to reduce the level of vehicle crime in Coventry in the last 12 months. (276688)

The Government are committed to ensuring that the response to motor vehicle crime is as effective as possible.

The Home Office is committed to supporting the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS), based at Ryton on Dunsmore, which has a national role in tackling vehicle crime, including sharing intelligence with forces. It works closely with regionally-based police colleagues in all 43 forces in England and Wales and has strong relationships with other key partners including the Serious Organised Crime Agency and HM Revenue and Customs, as well as partners in the private sector, in relation to vehicle crime.

There are also local initiatives in Coventry to tackle vehicle crime such as: vehicle decoy operations targeted in crime hot spots; a campaign to target the theft of satellite navigation systems, including covert sting operations and publicity; police community support officers checking vehicles with property left on show and providing advice to shoppers and those working in the city centre; advice to businesses on increasing security on their premises (e.g. CCTV and additional patrols); vouchers for vehicle crook locks distributed to the owners of older vehicles which do not benefit from security within their design; and offender management schemes that target known prolific offenders.

The efforts that we have made in partnership with police and colleagues in the vehicle insurance, vehicle manufacturing and other areas, has proved successful. From 1997 to 2007-08 we have seen a reduction of 66 per cent. in vehicle crime.