nmv strat plan

3Year

StrategicPlan

incorporatingthe

2000/2001Business

Plan

Vision Contribute to Australia’s economic and social well being by delivering sustainable reductions in the national levelof motor vehicle theft and achieving one of the lowest theft levels of any comparative industrialised country overthe next decade.

MissionFacilitate cooperation between industry, government and community stakeholders to implement effective motorvehicle theft prevention strategies, including the relevant recommendations of the National Motor Vehicle TheftTask Force Report of September, 1997.

Operating PhilosophyThe Council will develop common goals with stakeholders through the promotion of the major economic andsocial benefits of reduced motor vehicle theft, and will establish credibility through the quality of its proposalsfor change.

Communication, consultation and negotiation are hallmarks of the Council’s operating philosophy which willunderpin all Council activities.

Contents

foreword 2

REDUCING VEHICLE THEFT IN AUSTRALIA - THE CONTEXT 3

Background 3

Strategic Goals 3

DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF REFORMS 5

Method of Operation 5

Basis of Strategic Plan 5

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS 8

SUB-PROGRAM A: REDUCING PROFESSIONAL THEFT 10

A1: Improving National Information Exchange 10

A2: Motor Vehicle and Component Identification 11

A3: Investigation 13

A4: Legislative Responses 15

SUB-PROGRAM B: REDUCING OPPORTUNISTIC THEFT 16

B1: Vehicle Design 16

B1: Secure Practices 18

B3: Juvenile Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Initiative 20

SUB-PROGRAM C: FACILITATING COOPERATION & EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION 22

C1: Research And Evaluation 22

PERFORMANCE MEASURES 24

APPENDICES 24

1 2000/2001 Budget

2 3 Year Objectives Summary

1

3

Foreword

This plan is the first annual update of the NationalMotor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council’s StrategicPlan and sets the Council’s overall direction for2000-2003.

As the leading authority on motor vehicle theft inAustralia, the Council is conscious of the need tocontinue to foster and deepen relationships with ourstakeholders and strategic partners to bring aboutsustainable reductions in vehicle theft.

To ensure its strategic direction is developed with asound appreciation of the priorities and operatingenvironments of its stakeholders, the Councilconvened a series of strategic planning workshopsin all states and territories in the first quarter of2000. The workshops focused on reviewingprogress to date, identifying significant issues thathave not been addressed in the Council’s forwardprogram and agreeing on priorities for 2000/2001.

The resulting revised plan builds on the solidfoundation of the inaugural plan by placing a higherpriority on strategies that:

• facilitate the completion of the ”national grid“ of vehicle information exchange between police services and registration authorities;

•encourage the owners of pre-1992 vehicles to fit an engine immobiliser to their vehicle; and

• identify the most effective strategies for diverting young people from becoming involved in motor vehicle theft.

These priorities reflect the overriding importance ofensuring that reforms flow through effectively and inthe shortest possible time.

The revised plan also places a greater emphasis on:

•examining the impacts of insurance practices on vehicle theft, and understanding the extent of vehicle-related insurance fraud;

•understanding the dynamics and extent of professional theft activity; and

• the identification of strategies to combat the theft of motor cycles and heavy vehicles.

The Council remains committed to effectiveconsultation and cooperation with all the partieswho can play a part in reducing the economic andsocial impacts of motor vehicle theft on the nation -governments, industry, motorists and the broadercommunity. This plan provides the ”road map“ forall stakeholders to play their part in driving downvehicle theft.

Ray CarrollExecutive DirectorJuly 2000

BACKGROUND

The Council’s Strategic Plan is intended to be adynamic document, to be reviewed annually withthe first year of each plan comprising a detailedwork program.

Each revised plan will reflect a review of progressand a consideration of methods of operation, as well as the changing priorities and operatingenvironments of the Council’s stakeholders.

In the first quarter of 2000, the Council initiated a series of strategic planning workshops, tosupplement the Council’s usual consultativeprocesses. The workshops have been a major inputto this Strategic Plan. Additional discussions werealso held with peak bodies representing the roadfreight and passenger transport industries andmotorcyclists in relation to combating the theft ofheavy vehicles and motorcycles.

STRATEGIC GOALS

The successful achievement of motor vehicle theftreduction can be broadly categorised into threemajor strategic goals. The first two are designed toaddress the identified categories of motor vehicletheft: professional and opportunistic. The third goalis the delivery of an effective implementationmechanism for the proposed strategies.

Goal A: Reduce professional motor vehicle theft

Reduce the level of professional motor vehicle theftthrough:

• reducing the economic incentives of dealing in stolen vehicles and parts; and

• improved deterrence through an increased likelihood of detection.

Objectives

• Improving the effectiveness of national information exchange.

• Improving the identification of motor vehicles andtheir parts.

•Enhancing police and insurance investigation.

• Initiating appropriate legislative responses.

4

Reducing Vehicle Theft in Australia -the Context

National Theft

Reduction AgendaPlanning

and Priorities

Government and

Industry Agreement

and Commitment

Implementation

Goal B: Reduce opportunistic motor vehicle theft

Reduce the level of opportunistic motor vehicle theft through:

• increased target hardening; and

•the diversion of young offenders from criminal activity.

Objectives

•Applying effective security devices to new and existing vehicles.

•Promoting effective security practices to the motor trades and the general community.

• Identifying and addressing those factors which lead young people into offending lifestyles.

Goal C: Facilitating cooperation and effective implementation

Provide an effective mechanism to facilitatecooperation between industry, government and thecommunity to implement the National Motor VehicleTheft Reduction Plan.

Objectives

•Effective operation of a Council that represents key stakeholder groups supported by professional administration services.

•A sharp focus on measurable outcomes.

•Provision of high level monitoring and evaluation processes.

•Provision of a comprehensive communication and marketing strategy.

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METHOD OF OPERATION

The primary role of the Council is to facilitate theimplementation of motor vehicle theft prevention,and coordinate reform activities across industry,agency and jurisdictional boundaries. As a result theCouncil’s brief is broad, involving all stages ofvehicle theft prevention policy, including:

•policy development;

• the coordination of implementation; and

• the monitoring of outcomes.

As the Council’s internal resources are small, theestablishment of productive relationships withstakeholders and others is crucial to the delivery oftheft prevention reforms. Only by its stakeholdersembracing and adopting the reforms promoted bythe Council, can it deliver sustainable reductions inmotor vehicle theft.

BASIS OF STRATEGIC PLAN

Key challenges

Reducing vehicle theft in Australia requires actionacross a broad range of industry and governmentdisciplines and activities. Factors such as:

• the high proportion of older vehicles on our roads that have little or no effective security;

• the ease with which vehicle components can be absorbed by the black market;

•gaps in our national exchange of vehicle information between police and registration authorities; and

•some major misconceptions concerning the scale and nature of vehicle theft within ourmotoring population,

combine to make the challenge a considerable onefor the Council and its stakeholders.

Like many other issues, motor vehicle theft attractsattention in short-term periodic cycles while theachievement of long-term, sustainable reductionsrequires commitment to long-term strategies.There are no quick fixes. We have three yearsremaining to bring about the organisational changesand technical solutions needed to reduce motorvehicle theft while the major benefits from many ofthese reforms will not be seen until some time afterthe Council’s life.

Values

The Council is committed to the following values:

•understanding the needs of its stakeholders and seeking their participation in the reform process;

•utilising research and cost-benefit analysis to underpin the decision making process;

•promoting innovation and best practice;

•adopting a net community benefit approach when assessing competing interests;

•establishing a relevant presence in eachjurisdiction;

•promoting teamwork and openness;

•developing its skills;

•adopting a philosophy of continuousimprovement; and

•maintaining a safe, healthy and equitable working environment.

Outcomes for 1999/2000

The nature of the Council’s work means that outputswill always be subject to some variability. On-the-ground implementation of reforms are often subjectto factors that are outside of the Council’s controland often difficult to predict. Factors that affectedoutput for the 1999-2000 period include:

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Development and Delivery of ReformsDELIVERY

•competing demands on information technologyresources required to manage Year 2000compliance and Goods and Services Tax issuesaffected the speed with which many stakeholdershave been able to provide stolen vehicle data tothe Comprehensive Auto-Theft Research System;

• the financial imperative to implement nationalroad transport reforms, in order to be eligible forCommonwealth national competition policypayments, resulted in slower than expectedprogress in the development written-off vehicleregisters in some jurisdictions; and

• the additional consultation required with NewZealand, under the terms of the Trans-TasmanMutual Recognition Act, which has pushed theimplementation date for the Australian DesignRule for engine immobilisers back to July 2001.

Nonetheless, it is expected that the bulk of theCouncil’s work program for 1999/2000 will bedelivered by December 2000.

Progress on the Council’s key result areas to datehas included:

• reaching agreement with vehicle manufacturers tofit engine immobilisers as standard equipment onnew passenger vehicles from July 2001;

•clearing the way for voluntary introduction of self-voiding vehicle identification labels by vehiclemanufacturers in order to limit the ease withwhich existing vehicle identifiers can be copied oraltered by professional thieves;

• the recording of stolen vehicle information on theNational Exchange of Police Information systemand its linking to the National Exchange of Vehicleand Driver Information System developed byregistration authorities;

• the adoption of tighter proof-of-identityrequirements by registration authorities for peopleseeking to register or transfer vehicles;

• in conjunction with Austroads, initiating a processto advance the development of nationallyconsistent arrangements for the management ofwritten-off vehicles; and

• research into motorists’ attitudes to vehicle theftand security to inform the development ofcommunity awareness programs.

• reaching agreement with police and insuranceinvestigators on the curriculum and service modelfor a national vehicle theft investigators' course.

• identifying options for improving public access tovehicles status information.

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The major elements of the Council’s Strategic Planfor 2000-2003 are:

•continued commitment to completion of theoriginal recommendations of the National MotorVehicle Theft Task Force that have broadstakeholder support.

• increased emphasis on encouraging the owners ofpre-1992 vehicles to fit an engine immobiliser totheir vehicle that meets the Australian/NewZealand Standard AS/NZS 4601: 1999;

•greater emphasis on facilitating the completion of the “national grid” of vehicle informationexchange between police services andregistration authorities;

•specific focus on identifyingthe most effective strategiesfor diverting young peoplefrom becoming involved inmotor vehicle theft;

• the inclusion of major projects examining theimpacts of insurance practices on vehicle theft,and understanding the extent of vehicle-relatedinsurance fraud; and

• the inclusion of specific projects to identify keystrategies to combat the theft of motor cycles andheavy vehicles.

Priority areas in the Strategic Plan and work programare set out below.

Reducing professional motor vehicle theft(Sub-Program A)

The priorities in this sub-program will require theCouncil to take a more active role in facilitating:

•the completion of the ”national grid“ ofinformation exchange between police andregistration authorities; and

• the use of secure vehicle identification labels byvehicle manufacturers.

The other significant element of this program area will be to finalise the delivery of a nationaltraining course to enhance the skills of police andinsurance investigators.

8

Strategic Directions

9

Reducing opportunistic motor vehicle theft(Sub-program B)

A major objective of the Council is to increase thesecurity of new and existing vehicles. The prioritiesin this area are to:

• lobby vehicle manufacturers to meet their statedcommitment to introduce engine immobilisers onall new passenger vehicles prior to theintroduction of a mandatory Australian DesignRule in mid-2001; and

•promote the effectiveness of engine immobilisersto the owners of pre-1992 vehicles via a nationaladvertising campaign (subject to a review of trialprograms in Victoria and South Australia).

It is also proposed to commission a study to identifythe most effective interventions for diverting youngoffenders from motor vehicle theft.

Facilitating cooperation and effective implementation

The major focus of this sub-program will be ensuringthat the Council’s Comprehensive Auto-TheftResearch System (CARS) is operating at its optimalcapacity. CARS is essential to the Council’s analysisof theft prevention strategies and will provide avaluable source of statistical data on nationalvehicle theft trends to key stakeholders.

It is also proposed to commission specific studies into:

• improving insurance industry practices to reducemotor vehicle theft, and the incidence offraudulent claims; and

•strategies to combat the theft of motor cycles andheavy vehicles.

Reducing Professional Theft

A1: IMPROVING NATIONAL INFORMATION EXCHANGE

Objective

The implementation of an accurate and reliablenational system of information exchange supportedby national registration business rules that provideconsistent minimum standards of vehicle theftdeterrence and detection.

Council Approach

The full benefits of improved information exchangebetween jurisdictions will only be realised when theagreed systems have been implemented in allstates and territories. While substantial progresswas made in 1999, the ”national grid“ of vehicleinformation remains incomplete with a number ofjurisdictions not connected to the NationalExchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System(NEVDIS) and a national policy on the managementof written-off vehicles yet to be finalised.

Improving public access to non-personal informationabout a vehicle’s registration status is also critical toprotecting consumers against professional thieveswho attempt to sell re-birthed stolen vehicles tounsuspecting buyers.

The Council will continue to work co-operativelywith the jurisdictions to facilitate timely completionof the national information grid and improvements inconsumer access to vehicle information. TheCouncil’s role may involve co-ordination, theprovision of further research or the directcontribution of resources to address identifiedobstacles to implementation.

Year 1 (2000-2001)

Facilitate:

• the linking of all registration authorities to NEVDISand monitor compliance with agreed checkingprotocols;

• the development of nationally consistent Written-off Vehicle Registers (WOVR) in all states andterritories; and

• improved consumer access to vehicle status information.

Provide grants and/or resources for systemsenhancements where necessary.

Outputs

Substantial progress towards completion of thenational information grid, with quarterly reports onprogress and recommendations for improvements if necessary.

Year 2 (2001-2002)

Monitor operation of national information systems;review their impact on vehicle theft rates anddevelop recommendations for improvements, if necessary.

Year 3 (2002-2003)

Promote adoption of recommended revisedpractices (if any).

A2: MOTOR VEHICLE AND COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION

Objective

The development of new vehicle design standardsthat will ensure an adequate level of theftdeterrence including a unique tamper-resistantVehicle Identification Number (VIN), and a cost-effective component identification system.

Council Approach

Component identification

Some industry groups and police have been calling for the implementation of a componentidentification system in Australia for some years to deter the trade in stolen parts and reduce vehicle theft.

Beyond anecdotal information from police andindustry sources, very little is known about the illicitparts trade in Australia and the condition ofrecovered stolen vehicles.

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SUB PROGRAM

Understanding the dynamics of the illicit partsmarket is critical to determining the level ofinvestment in component labelling technologies thatcan be justified.

In 1999/2000, the Council developed a researchplan to examine the Australian scene in detail. The first part of the study, which is scheduled for completion in the quarter ending September2000, will:

•detail the nature of the trade, including thelogistics of distributing and disposing of stolenparts, the end uses of stolen parts, and profiles ofparticipants in the trade;

• identify the characteristics of vehicles that aretargeted by thieves and where the distributionchains of the legitimate and stolen parts marketintersect or diverge; and

• report on practices and infrastructure deficienciesthat support the trade.

The next steps will be to determine the economicdimensions of the trade and assess the potential costs and benefits of componentidentification systems.

Vehicle identification

In 1999, the Australian Transport Safety Bureaualtered Australian vehicle manufacturingrequirements to clear the way for counterfeit-protected adhesive labels. These can be used as a secure alternative to aluminium vehicleidentification plates that can be easily substituted,altered or copied. To date no vehicle manufacturerhas developed a secure label.

The Council will work with vehicle and labelmanufacturers to expedite the introduction of newlabelling technologies.

Year 1 (2000-2001)


Complete research into the nature and extent ofillicit parts use in Australia, and the evaluation of

component identification systems implemented (orproposed) in overseas markets.

Undertake research to determine the economicdimensions of the illicit parts trade in Australia.

Outputs

Report on the nature and extent of illicit parts use in Australia.

Report outlining the cost of the stolen vehicle partstrade in Australia.

Evaluation of component identification systemsimplemented (or proposed) in overseas markets andthe role emerging technologies may play.


Monitor the development and promote the use ofself-voiding compliance labels, including direct inputinto the development of technical solutions tomaximise their effectiveness (eg counterfeitprotection, dual location).

Promote the stamping of the VIN on a substantialpart of the vehicle structure by all vehiclemanufacturers, by identifying current practices and making submissions to non-complyingmanufacturers.

Year 2 (2001-2002)

Subject to the outcomes of commissioned researchfrom year 1, develop fully costed recommendationsand an implementation strategy for componentidentification systems.

Monitor manufacturers take up of new compliancelabelling technologies.

Year 3 (2002-2003)

Monitor the impacts of any implemented systemsand promote adoption of recommended revisedpractices (if any).

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A3: INVESTIGATION

Objective

Promote the development of intelligence gatheringand investigative processes within existingframeworks that provide tactical and strategicassessments of organised crime involvement inmotor vehicle theft and assist jurisdictionalinvestigation efforts.

Council Approach

Tactical and Strategic Assessments ofOrganised Crime

In 1999/2000 the Council conducted a preliminaryassessment of the feasibility of the AustralianBureau of Criminal Intelligence (ABCI) re-establishing a motor vehicle theft desk. Based onthe estimated costs of the service, which the ABCIindicated could only be provided on the basis of fullexternal funding, the Council determined that theservice was not feasible at this time.

To better understand the present performance oftheft investigation in Australia, the Council proposesto commission a new study to identify the strengthsand weaknesses of existing investigation practices.The study may better identify the need forcentralised intelligence information.

Enhancing investigation skills

In 1999/2000 the Council undertook an analysis ofthe current sources of investigator training todetermine the need and support for a nationalcourse to enhance the skills of police and insuranceinvestigators.

The analysis indicated:

• that most vehicle theft-related training is currentlydelivered in an ad hoc fashion without a clearlydefined curriculum; and

•strong support for a national course focused onfacilitating the transfer of practical expertise.

A workshop of key police and insurancerepresentatives convened in May 2000, to examineoptions for the development and delivery of anational course, supported a model based on anappropriate tertiary institution providing the nationalinfrastructure for the course, linked closely with theprovision of practical training by police services at alocal level.

Year 1 (2000-2001)

Investigation of motor vehicle theft

Conduct study of present levels of motor vehicletheft investigation, making recommendations forchange if necessary.

Enhancing investigation skills

Form strategic alliance with an appropriate tertiaryinstitution, police services and the insuranceindustry to develop and implement a national vehicletheft investigators’ course.

Outputs

Report on the current level of motor vehicle theft investigation.

National Motor Vehicle Theft Investigators’ Course operating.

Year 2 (2001-2002)

Monitor and evaluate the performance of individualjurisdictions in investigating organised motor vehicle theft.

Monitor the effectiveness of the National MotorVehicle Theft Investigators’ Course and evaluate the performance of service provider.

Year 3 (2002-2003)


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A4: LEGISLATIVE RESPONSES

Objective

To provide legislative sanctions and regulationswhich deter potential motor vehicle theft offendersand those who deal in stolen parts.

Council Approach

Despite some diversity in terminology, courts in allstates and territories have the power to imposequite severe penalties when sentencing vehicletheft offenders. While definitions of theft and theelements required to establish a successfulprosecution vary significantly, to a large extent they simply reflect the wide range of jurisdictionalfactors taken into account when criminal sentencing provisions are formulated at a state andterritory level.

In 1999/2000 the Council sought stakeholders viewson the feasibility of pursuing a more consistentapproach to serious professional vehicle theft,unlawful dealing in compliance plates or labels, andrecord keeping requirements for second hand partdealers. Based on consultation, it is evident thatthere is little consensus on these issues. As aresult, the Council does not propose to pursue itfurther at this time. It is possible, however, thatother initiatives will come to light in subsequentyears that may require a legislative response.

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Reducing Opportunistic Theft

B1: VEHICLE DESIGN

Objective

The development of new vehicle design standardsand after-market applications that ensure anadequate level of theft deterrence through theintroduction of effective engine immobilisers. (Seesub-program A2 for measures relating to vehicleidentification and component labelling initiatives).

Council Approach

Self-arming electronic engine immobilisers haveproven to be the most effective vehicle securitydevices yet developed. The inclusion of engineimmobilisers as standard equipment on many locallyproduced models since 1992 has led to a markeddecrease in the level of theft that would have beenexpected of these vehicles.

For new passenger vehicles the Council will monitorthe implementation by the Australian TransportSafety Bureau and the vehicle industry of an ADR for the mandatory fitting of engine immobilisers onnew vehicles from July 2001. In the interim, theCouncil will continue to encourage vehiclemanufacturers to voluntarily install engineimmobilisers as standard equipment on all newvehicles sold in the Australian market.

For the existing fleet the Council will monitor thetechnical efficiency of after-market immobilisers andfitting standards. The Council also proposes toconduct a major advertising campaign promotingthe benefits of after-market immobilisers to theowners of pre-1992 vehicles.

Year 1 (2000-2001)

ADR for immobilisers

Monitor implementation of ADR 25/02 for engineimmobilisers, based on the international UN-ECEstandard for all new passenger vehicles.

Encourage vehicle manufacturers to voluntaryintroduce complying engine immobilisers asstandard equipment to all new models releasedprior to July 2001.

After-market Immobilisers

Conduct a communications program to promote theeffectiveness of engine immobilisers in preventingopportunistic theft to the general community.

Monitor the effectiveness of immobilisers (and theirtechnical specifications) as a theft deterrent.

Outputs

Implementation of ADR 25/02 for engineimmobilisers by July 2001.

Delivery of a comprehensive communicationscampaign promoting the effectiveness of engineimmobilisers in preventing opportunistic theft to theowners of pre-1992 vehicles.

Report on the take up of the voluntary installation ofengine immobilisers by vehicle manufacturers, andthe degree to which their availability influences thedecisions of new vehicle buyers.

Report on the incidence of the theft of motorvehicles fitted with engine immobilisers.

Year 2 (2001-2002)

Monitor the effectiveness of immobilisers as a theftdeterrent via the Comprehensive Auto-TheftResearch System (CARS).

Continue communications campaign promoting the effectiveness of engine immobilisers inpreventing opportunistic theft to the owners of pre-1992 vehicles.

Year 3 (2002-2003)

Monitor the effectiveness of immobilisers as a theftdeterrent via the CARS Project.

Continue communications campaign promoting the effectiveness of engine immobilisers inpreventing opportunistic theft to the owners ofpre-1992 vehicles.

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SUB PROGRAMB

B2: SECURE PRACTICES

Objective

The development of broadly based approaches tomotor vehicle theft reduction through partnershipsbetween government, the community and thebusiness sectors.

Council Approach

A national survey of motorists’ attitudes towardsvehicle theft and security commissioned by theCouncil in September 1999, indicates that thecommunity has a poor understanding of thedynamics of motor vehicle theft. Unless motoristshave a basic appreciation of the incidence andconsequences of vehicle theft, they are unlikely totake individual responsibility for theft prevention.Despite the poor understanding of theft issueswithin the community, respondents indicated apreparedness to pay more for vehicles with superiorsecurity features, and to use secure car parks.

The Council proposes to initiate a major promotionalcampaign aimed at encouraging the owners of pre-1992 vehicles to fit an Australian Standard engineimmobiliser to their vehicle. The program will betrialed in Victoria and Tasmania in mid-2000, andsubject to an evaluation of its effectiveness, beprogressively extended nationally (except forWestern Australia, where a mandatory immobiliserscheme is in place).

The Council will also develop a range of publiceducation materials for use by stakeholders andconsider requests to contribute funds to state andterritory activities.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the Council’scommunications program generally, an annualsurvey of motorists will be conducted to monitorchanges in community perceptions of vehicle theftand secure practices.

Year 1 (2000-2001)

Public education

Promote the value of after-market engineimmobilisers in deterring opportunistic vehicle theftand increase the percentage of the national vehiclefleet that is fitted with an immobiliser.

Form alliances with appropriate government andprivate sector partners to add value to their publiceducation campaigns.

Promote secure practices in relation to not leavingvaluable items in vehicles, and ensuring vehicles areappropriately secured when unattended.

Analyse impacts of secure car parks on the level oftheft from the car park and surrounding area.

Outputs

Engine immobiliser promotional campaign trialed inVictoria and South Australia (for extension nationallysubject to evaluation).

Improved levels of consumer awareness of securepractices and vehicle theft issues.

Evaluation of the impacts of secure car parks onvehicle theft.

Year 2 (2001-2002)

Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of publiceducation campaigns.

Use evaluation material to further refine and targetpublic education and community based schemes.

Year 3 (2002-2003)

Monitor and refine public education campaigns.


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B3: JUVENILE MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTPREVENTION INITIATIVE

Objective

To participate in the creation of the necessaryframework for effective prevention programs whichsuccessfully reduce motor vehicle theft byaddressing the different causes of juvenile offendingbehaviour.

Council Approach

The Council’s initial role in relation to juvenileoffending was to contribute to initiatives developedby National Crime Prevention (NCP) in conjunctionwith the state and territory National Ant-CrimeStrategy participants.

However, due to NCP’s focus onearly childhood intervention, theCouncil considers it necessary to

establish direct relationships with youth programsthat are oriented to motor vehicle theft and havepotential to reduce youth related vehicle crime.

The Council sees its role as promoting andsupporting local, regional or national projects thatfall into one or more of the following categories:

• facilitating the development of strategicgovernment, industry and welfare organisationpartnerships in juvenile vehicle crime programs.

•promoting research that enables a betterunderstanding of youth vehicle theft offending andthe actions needed to reduce needed to reduce its occurrence.

•working with existing programs to identify theirsuccesses and promote their wider application.

The Council’s role does not extend to the re-currentfunding of programs.

The Council will look for opportunities to facilitatethe development of strategic government, industryand welfare sector partnerships in vehicle theftrelated juvenile crime prevention programs.

Year 1 (2000-2001)

Juvenile offending

Promote and facilitate research that leads to abetter understanding of what leads young people tobecome involved in motor vehicle theft.

Work with existing programs to generate betterunderstanding of the characteristics of

successful youth vehicle theftprevention programs.

Consider applications for fundingto evaluate existing programs orfacilitate their wider application.

Participate in the NCP process to appraiseparticipants of the Council’s perspective of onjuvenile motor vehicle theft issues.

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STOP

17

Outputs

Report on the nature of youth vehicle theft offendingand what is needed to reduce its incidence.

Reports evaluating current programs and analysingthe elements of good program design to promotetheir wider application.

Facilitation of government and industry involvementin specific programs.

Year 2 (2000-2001)

Monitor and facilitate best practice programs withresponsible government departments and industry.

Year 3 (2001-2002)

Monitor and facilitate best practice programs withresponsible government departments and industry.

Facilitating Cooperation & EffectiveImplementation

C1: RESEARCH AND EVALUATION

Objective

To provide motor vehicle theft research systemsthat produce comprehensive, timely and reliabledata for the evaluation of motor vehicle theftstrategies for the use of the Council, policy makers,police and industry.

Council Approach

One of the Council’s key goals is to develop effectivemechanisms to facilitate co-operation betweenindustry, government and community groups toreduce motor vehicle theft. The ability to evaluatethe effectiveness of theft reduction strategies, and monitor changes in theft trends, is critical to this process.

The Comprehensive Auto-Theft Research System(CARS) is designed to integrate more than 150pieces of non-personal data on reported vehicletheft incidents from vehicle insurers, police andregistration authorities nationally.

1999/2000 saw the completion of the system’soperating and personnel requirements. However,competing demands on the information technologyresources required to manage Year 2000compliance and Goods and Services Tax issues hasaffected the speed with which many stakeholdershave been able to provide data to system. Thesedelays have to date significantly limited theCouncil’s ability to analyse theft trends to the degreeof sophistication expected by its stakeholders.

However, by the first quarter of 2000/2001 thesystem is expected to be operating at optimalcapacity and will provide the Council and itsstakeholders with more meaningful and statisticallypowerful analyses of motor vehicle theft in Australia,than has been previously possible.

In response to views expressed by stakeholders inthe strategic planning workshops held in early 2000,the Council also proposes to examine the impacts ofinsurance practices on vehicle theft, and the extentof vehicle-related insurance fraud.

Year 1 (2000-2001)

Evaluation

Provide comprehensive and timely motor vehicle theft data to Council stakeholders and policy makers while meeting stakeholderconfidentiality requirements.

Commission specific evaluations of vehicle theftreduction strategies as required (eg effectiveness ofengine immobilisers, hot spots for opportunisticthieves, condition of recovered vehicles).

Monitor theft trends as a primary element of theCouncil’s Key Performance Indicators.

Commission specific analyses on:

• the theft of motor cycles and heavy vehicles and thestrategies required to reduce their incidence; and

• the impacts of insurance practices on vehicle theft,and the extent of vehicle-related insurance fraud.

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SUB PROGRAMC

Outputs

Quarterly and annual reports on motor vehicle theft trends.

Reports on specific motor vehicle theft initiatives as required.

Publication of performance indicators for theCouncil’s operations.

Reports on the theft of motor cycles and heavyvehicles and the strategies required to reduce their incidence.

Report on the impacts of insurance practices onvehicle theft, and the extent of vehicle-relatedinsurance fraud.

Year 2 (2001-2002)

Provide comprehensive and timely motor vehicle theftdata to Council stakeholders and policy makers.

Commission specific evaluation of motor vehicletheft reduction strategies as required.

Report on Council performance against agreedperformance indicators.

Report on performance of other stakeholders inaddressing motor vehicle theft issues.

Year 3 (2002-2003)

Final report of Council identifying achievements andissues requiring future attention.

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Performance Measures

The Council places a heavy emphasis on measurableoutcomes and the delivery of high quality monitoringand evaluation processes. Key performanceindicators (KPI) will be crucial tools in measuringoutcomes and determining the Council’s success inachieving its mission.

The Council’s KPI have been based on the following principles:

• the Council will maintain continual monitoring andreporting throughout its life to ensure that its theftreduction strategies are effective;

•measurement of vehicle theft trends will beintegral from the outset, but must be viewed fromthe perspective that some strategies will takeseveral years to have an impact on theft statistics;

• the KPI should also measure the effectiveness ofthe Council’s communications and consultationstrategies; and

•measures for the first three years should focus onthe process of delivering the strategies set out inthe Council’s Strategic Plan, with emphasis in thefinal year on the effectiveness of the overall raft ofstrategies.

Feedback from stakeholders indicates that theproposed measures are consistent with theirexpectations and are viewed as objective measuresof the Council’s effectiveness.

Throughout the Council’s operating period thefollowing KPI will be reported upon. (The measuresfor 1999/2000 will be reported in the Council’sannual report in October 2000):

Status of Motor vehicle theft trends inAustralia, based on:

•comparisons with motor vehicle theft incomparable developed nations;

• reductions in the rate of vehicle theft per numberof vehicles registered and per 1,000 population;

• reductions or changes in the incidence and natureof opportunistic and professional theft;

•community perceptions of motor vehicle theftrelative to other crimes; and

• the economic and social cost ofmotor vehicle theft, includingthe costs borne by theinsurance industry and criminaljustice system.

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Assessment of Council’s consultation andcommunications processes, based on:

•stakeholders’ perceptions of the Council’s programco-ordination and consultation performance;

• the timeliness and quality (as assessed bystakeholders) of the Council’s publications;

•analyses of references to the Council in the mediaand assessment of coverage as negative, neutralor positive; and

•an improved level of awareness of vehicle security practices and vehicle theft issues by the community.

Council’s contribution to vehicle theft reformsby stakeholders, based on the:

• level of stakeholder activity in respect tosignificant motor vehicle theft reforms (in progressor completed);

• level of stakeholder response to the reformspromoted by the Council for the period; and

• level of Council’s influence on the implementationof reforms (major positive impact, minor positiveimpact, no impact, negative impact).

KPI for the Council’s final year, 2002-2003:

Major review of Council outcomes based on:

•an audit of the strategies of the original TaskForce, reporting on whether they have beenimplemented, implemented in a modified form ornot implemented;

•an analysis of the effectiveness of the strategies; and

•an assessment of the Council’s implementationprocesses.

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App

endi

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Appendix 1

2000/2001 BUDGET

Income $

Funding Income 2,250,000

Cars allocation from 1998/99 surplus 300,000

Interest 40,000

Total 2,590,000

Expenditure $

Salaries and on-costs 253,000

Operating Expenses 70,800

Program Budget 2,258,000

2000/2001 Surplus 8,200

Total 2,590,000

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Appendix 2

Improving NationalInformation Exchange

Facilitate linking ofregistration authorities to NEVDIS and monitorcompliance with agreedchecking protocols.

Facilitate the developmentof nationally consistentWritten-off VehicleRegisters (WOVR) in all states and territories.

Facilitate improvedconsumer access to vehicle status information.

Provide grants and/orresources for systemsenhancements wherenecessary.

Monitor operation ofnational informationsystems; review theirimpact on vehicle theftrates and developrecommendations forimprovements if necessary.

Promote adoption ofrecommended revisedpractices (if any).

OBJECTIVE Year 1 Year 2 Year 3(2000-2001) (2001-2002) (2002-2003)

A:REDUCING

PROFESSIONAL THEFT

3 YEAR OBJECTIVE SUMMARY

Motor Vehicle andComponent Identification


Complete research intoillicit parts use in Australia,and the evaluation ofcomponent identificationsystems in overseasmarkets.


Monitor the developmentand promote the use ofself-voiding compliancelabels, including direct input into the developmentof technical solutions to maximise theireffectiveness (eg counterfeit protection,dual location).

Subject to the outcomes ofcommissioned researchfrom year 1, develop fullycosted recommendationsand an implementationstrategy for componentidentification systems.

Monitor manufacturers takeup of new compliancelabelling technologies.

Monitor the impacts of anyimplemented systems andpromote adoption ofrecommended revisedpractices (if any).

25


A:REDUCING

PROFESSIONAL THEFT

26

Investigation Investigation of motorvehicle theft

Conduct study of presentlevels of motor vehicle theftinvestigation, makingrecommendations forchange if necessary

Enhancing investigationskills

Form strategic alliance withan appropriate tertiaryinstitution, police servicesand the insurance industryto develop and implement a national vehicle theftinvestigators’ course.

Monitor and evaluate the performance ofindividual jurisdictions ininvestigating organisedmotor vehicle theft.

Monitor the effectivenessof the national course andevaluate the performance of service provider.



A:REDUCING

PROFESSIONAL THEFT

Vehicle Design ADR for immobilisers

Monitor implementation of ADR 25/02 for engineimmobilisers for newpassenger vehicles.

Encourage manufacturers to introduce engineimmobilisers as standardequipment to all newmodels released prior toJuly 2001.

After-market Immobilisers

Conduct communicationsprogram to promote theeffectiveness of engineimmobilisers in preventingopportunistic theft to thegeneral community.

Monitor the effectivenessof immobilisers (and theirtechnical specifications) asa theft deterrent.

Monitor the effectivenessof immobilisers as a theftdeterrent via theComprehensive Auto-TheftResearch System (CARS).

Continue communicationscampaign promoting theeffectiveness of engineimmobilisers in preventingopportunistic theft to theowners of pre-1992vehicles.

Monitor the effectivenessof immobilisers as a theftdeterrent via the CARSProject.

Continue communicationscampaign promoting theeffectiveness of engineimmobilisers in preventingopportunistic theft to the owners of pre-1992vehicles.


27

B:REDUCING

OPPORTUNISTIC THEFT

28

Secure Practices Public education

Promote the value of after-market engine immobilisersin deterring opportunisticvehicle theft and increasethe percentage of thenational vehicle fleet fittedwith an immobiliser.

Form alliances withappropriate governmentand private sector partnersto add value to their publiceducation campaigns.

Promote secure practicesgenerally to the community.

Analyse impacts of securecar parks on the level oftheft from the car park andsurrounding area.

Monitor and evaluate theeffectiveness of publiceducation campaigns.

Use evaluation material tofurther refine and targetpublic education andcommunity based schemes.

Monitor and refine publiceducation campaigns.



B:REDUCING

OPPORTUNISTIC THEFT

29

Juvenile Motor VehicleTheft Prevention Initiative

Juvenile offending

Promote and facilitateresearch into why youngpeople become involved in motor vehicle theft.

Work with existing programsto better understand thecharacteristics ofsuccessful youth vehicletheft prevention programs.

Consider applications forfunding to evaluate existingprograms or facilitate theirwider application.

Participate in the NCPprocess to appraiseparticipants of the Council’sperspective of on juvenilemotor vehicle theft issues.

Monitor and facilitate bestpractice programs withresponsible governmentdepartments and industry.

Monitor and facilitate bestpractice programs withresponsible governmentdepartments and industry.


B:REDUCING

OPPORTUNISTIC THEFT

30

Research and Evaluation Evaluation

Provide comprehensive andtimely motor vehicle theftdata to Council stakeholdersand policy makers.

Commission specificevaluations of vehicle theftreduction strategies asrequired.

Monitor theft trends as a primary element of theCouncil’s Key PerformanceIndicators.

Commission specificanalyses on:

• the theft of motor cycles and heavy vehicles; and

• the impacts of insurance practices on vehicle theft, and the extent of vehicle-related insurance fraud.

Provide comprehensive and timely motor vehicletheft data to Councilstakeholders and policymakers.

Commission specificevaluation of motor vehicletheft reduction strategiesas required.

Report on Councilperformance against agreedperformance indicators.

Report on performance of other stakeholders inaddressing motor vehicletheft issues.

Final report of Councilidentifying achievementsand issues requiring futureattention.


C:FACILITATINGCOOPERATION & EFFECTIVE

IMPLEMENTATION

Desi

gned

by

Royc

e Co

mm

unic

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National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council3 Year Strategic Plan

ISBN 1 876704 04 7

STOP

nmv strat plan

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