Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the causes of the 49 per cent rise in vehicle thefts in the four years to 2017–18; what plans they have to address that rise; what discussions they have had with the automotive industry about improving vehicle security, including the security of keyless entry and start systems; and what regulations are in place to ensure minimum standards of security for newly made vehicles in the UK.

On 15 January the Minister for Policing and the Fire Service chaired the first meeting of the Vehicle Theft Taskforce, which brings together the automotive industry, insurers, the police, Government departments and others to help ensure that the collective response to vehicle theft in England and Wales is as robust as it can be.

In addition to developing further our understanding about the threat, the work of the Taskforce will cover vehicle security, which includes looking at preventing the compromise of electronic vehicle security.

The majority of new cars and small commercial vehicles must meet the requirements of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation 97 and Regulation 116 covering Vehicle Alarm Systems and Protection of Motor Vehicles Against Unauthorised Use.