Latest news with #GarethMason
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Popular family models among most stolen cars as Midlands named as theft hotspot
People in the West Midlands are most likely to have their cars stolen after it was revealed the region has the highest rate of thefts in the country. New figures named the West Midlands as the nation's car crime capital. And motorists can see which models are stolen most often in the region, and check if theirs is on the list. READ MORE: Vehicle tax on these cars to double from April as drivers told to prepare Get all the latest motoring news sent to your inbox by signing up to our new newsletter here Some of the UK's most popular cars feature on the top 10 list, including the Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus and Range Rovers. Details were released by West Midlands Police (WMP) following a freedom of information request by BirminghamLive. Most stolen cars in the West Midlands in the 12 months to August 2024 Ford Fiesta - 630 Land Rover Discovery - 327 Range Rover Evoque 238 VW Golf - 224 Nissan Navara - 189 Ford Focus - 176 Ford Focus Titanium - 156 Nissan Juke Acenta - 156 Toyota Yaris - 152 Vauxhall Corsa - 147 Range Rover Sport - 146 Range Rover - 144 Toyota Prius - 132 Jaguar Land Rover says it has taken steps to protect its modern vehicles and combat theft. There were a total of 7,694 vehicle thefts in the West Midlands last year, according to DVLA data analysed by WhatCar. That equates to 2.64 offences for every 1,000 people in the region. While London had a higher number of total offences with 14,106, its huge population meant its rate was lower at 1.58. Despite being the car crime capital, WMP recently revealed overall car crime was down in the region. Vehicle thefts surged by 35%, from 11,990 incidents in 2021 to 16,232 in 2023. But the force said new data showed offences were down more than 10% over the last 12 months. Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: "The rise in vehicle theft across the West Midlands is deeply concerning, and I'm committed to taking decisive action to protect our communities. 'The recent seizures are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our officers, and I'm confident that this increased focus will make a real difference in tackling this issue.' Head of West Midlands Police 's Roads Policing Unit, Superintendent Gareth Mason, added: "We are seeing positive results from this increased investment and are determined to continue our efforts to drive down vehicle crime." Jaguar Land Rover says it has taken steps to protect its models from key cloning theft, and says it is "no longer a threat" to its cars which have ultra-wide band protection.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Police arrest 179 in road crime crackdown
Police made 179 arrests and recovered 650 vehicles in January as part of a campaign against road crime in the West Midlands. West Midlands Police said 400 of the vehicles were uninsured and 135 were stolen, and the team recovered stolen cars worth £674,000. Supt Gareth Mason said officers were "dedicated to making the roads safer, and removing criminals from behind the wheels of cars where they can cause real damage". He added: "We know that too many people are still being killed and seriously injured on our roads, and our officers are committed to educating and taking action against drivers who put themselves and others at risk with their driving." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. West Midlands Police
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
West Midlands Police to double its fleet of speed camera vans
The West Midlands police and crime commissioner (PCC) has committed £188,000 to double the region's fleet of mobile speed camera Foster said it meant the force could monitor more "hot spots" to catch speeding said he had invested £130,000 to purchase three new vans – and approved funding for a fourth worth £58,000 to bring the number to eight in added that road safety was a top priority and pledged to work towards halving the number of people killed and seriously injured on West Midlands roads by 2030. "Speeding is a major factor in road collisions, and it's something I and West Midlands Police are determined to tackle," he said."This investment, via the Safer Streets Fund, will significantly enhance our ability to catch speeding drivers and make our roads safer for everyone."The speed camera vans are able to operate 24 hours per day, seven days a week, said the PCC, whose area covers Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and caught driving above the speed limit can be fined up to £1,000 and have penalty points added to their driving license. 'Mindset change' Supt Gareth Mason, who heads up the force's roads policing unit, said the additional vans would enable officers to be more visible in communities and send a strong message that speeding is unacceptable"This will dramatically strengthen our capacity to enforce the law across our road network," he said."Our aim is to change the mindset of motorists. Drive safe and don't put others at risk." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
