Car/Vehicle Crime

Car and vehicle crime affects many in society, at one time accounting for around a fifth of all recorded crime in the UK. However, since its peak in the mid 1990s, there has been a significant fall in Scotland, although it still accounts for a substantial proportion of recorded crime. Although there are many types of motor vehicle offences, such as dangerous and careless driving, speeding, drunk driving and unlawful use of a vehicle (e.g. driving without a licence), most car/vehicle offences relate to theft of or from vehicles. Broadly speaking the motivation for these offences are usually for either financial gain (e.g. for resale or breaking into parts) or for casual use (e.g. joyriding). The latter is thought to be particularly true of young people involved in car crime. 

Further detailed information, including research findings, reports and resources can be found on the Crime Reduction Toolkits website.

The Home Office also published a useful report in 1992, which looked at the motivations of young people involved in car-related offending on a housing estate in the North East of England. The report can be viewed here.

The Centre holds a small number of books  on Car Crime, details of which can be found here.