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UK's NaVCIS Recovers Stolen Finance Vehicles Valued At £9.6M Across Europe
The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) has successfully thwarted the theft or facilitated the return of 320 stolen finance vehicles across Europe since 2021, leveraging HPI Check data. Funded by the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA), NaVCIS focuses on recovering stolen finance vehicles. The team has retrieved cars from various European countries, with Romania and Bulgaria being frequent destinations.
Criminals often possess the keys to these vehicles, having obtained finance either under their own names and defaulting on payments or through fraudulent identities. NaVCIS has recovered vehicles worth £9.6 million, with Romania and Bulgaria accounting for 60% of this value. HPI Check aids NaVCIS by providing vehicle data to European law enforcement agencies, helping identify stolen vehicles during re-registration processes.
NaVCIS conducts operations to detect, deter, and disrupt organised crime related to vehicle finance. Intelligence sharing between UK and overseas law enforcement is crucial in combating this crime. The team also develops best practices to prevent vehicle finance crime. Vehicles are often transported out of the UK via ferries, shipping containers, and the channel tunnel.
When these vehicles are re-registered in destination countries, intelligence from NaVCIS and HPI Check helps identify them as stolen so they can be seized and returned to UK finance companies. Commenting on the scheme, Sharon Naughton, head of NaVCIS, said: "These are complex crimes operating across international borders, and it requires the tireless work of the NaVCIS team of experts, alongside partners across Europe, to identify and seize these vehicles."
HPI Check supports NaVCIS by sponsoring them with essential vehicle data. This data is made available to European law enforcement agencies to help identify stolen vehicles during re-registration processes. Re-registration centres across Europe rely on HPI Check to spot stolen UK finance vehicles.
Jon Clay, data director (identification) at HPI, stated: "Advanced technology ensures that our data is updated in real-time, and we’re pleased to support the vital work undertaken by NaVCIS." He added that an HPI Check helps motorists determine if a car has been reported stolen or has outstanding finance issues.
International Cooperation
More foreign police services are showing interest in cooperating with NaVCIS. HPI, part of Solera Holdings Inc., has committed to supporting an expansion to help track down and secure stolen vehicles. The partnership aims to build a comprehensive vehicle history that highlights any discrepancies such as accident data or mileage tampering.
Naughton emphasised the importance of their partnership with HPI: "Our data partnership with HPI is essential to the process, which is time critical to prevent onward transit of stolen cars." This collaboration reduces opportunities for seizure and allows vehicles to be checked for outstanding finance or theft.
The efforts of NaVCIS have significantly impacted organised vehicle crime across Europe. By working closely with European law enforcement agencies and leveraging advanced technology from HPI Check, they continue to recover valuable assets for UK finance companies.
The ongoing cooperation between NaVCIS and international partners highlights the importance of shared intelligence in tackling cross-border vehicle crime effectively.
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