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Theft: Fuels

Answer

The Secretary of State has not received any representations on thefts of either red diesel or household fuel from rural areas.Statistics on the theft of red diesel and household fuel are not collected centrally. Such offences would be recorded within the Home Office offence classifications of 'theft from a vehicle', 'other theft' or 'other fraud' depending on the circumstances of the offence. Such offences cannot be separately identified from the other offences included in those classifications.The Government's commitment that there will be a Neighbourhood Policing Team in every area by 2008 has been met. This marks three years of hard work from forces to roll-out Neighbourhood Policing. Neighbourhood Policing teams engage in proactive or preventative work to tackle low level crime and anti social behaviour which may be a persistent issue or concern that exists in the local community. In rural areas, this may include working together with local agencies to provide advice to the community on preventing fuel theft. Such advice would include restricting access where possible and the use of appropriate fencing locks. No formal assessment of the role of neighbourhood policing in preventing theft of red diesel and household fuel in rural areas, has been made.Crime has reduced by a third over the last 10 years. The Government's Crime Strategy builds upon the achievements of the last ten years but moves away from centrally imposed targets toward making local agencies accountable and responsive to the needs and priorities of the local community. This means that local areas can focus greatest effort on reducing those crimes that matter most to people locally, whatever the crime. Where the theft of red diesel and household fuel emerges as a pressing local issue, whether in a rural or urban area, we would encourage local police forces to devote resources to tackling this crime.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

478 c915-6W; 214309

Session

2007-08

Subjects

Fuels Theft

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk