Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

RAC car crime campaign launched

Christian Wolmar,Transport Correspondent
Tuesday 11 January 1994 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

THE RISING tide of car crime has prompted the RAC to launch an advertising campaign that suggests criticism of the Government's failure to get to grips with law and order. The advertisements will appear in the national press next week at a cost of more than pounds 1m, with the slogan: 'It isn't the car that's broken down, it's law and order.'

In a survey released yesterday, the RAC found that more than one in five drivers had had their car broken into, vandalised or stolen in the past year. This implies that a large number of crimes are going unreported since official statistics show that only about one in ten drivers are victims of such crimes every year.

Edmund King, the RAC's campaigns manager, said: 'We are reflecting the concerns of our members, who often feel that not enough is being done about car crime. . . . the police always have more serious matters such as murders and assaults to deal with.'

There was no Home Office minister at the launch of the RAC's car crime campaign as Charles Wardle, Under-Secretary of State, said that he had prior constituency business.

The RAC said that, in 1992, 587,900 cars were stolen and 954,248 cars were broken into in England and Wales. One-third of stolen cars are never recovered and high performance cars are three times more likely to be stolen. Car crime has led to a change in behaviour among many drivers, with one-third of women no longer driving at night alone.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in