Less than 2% of car thieves charged in Hertfordshire
Local MP's are calling on the government to take urgent action
Hertfordshire MP’s are calling for tougher action on car thefts, as figures show just under two percent of cases led to charges last year.
More than 2,000 vehicle thefts that took place in Hertfordshire in 2025, with 1.91% of cases resulting in a suspect being charged.
The Home Office figures also show that police failed to identify a suspect in 77% of cases.
Liberal Democrat MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, Victoria Collins, says this is a “systemic issue” and is calling on the government to take urgent action.
Alongside the St Albans MP Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrats say ‘restoring community policing in Hertfordshire will help officers have the time and resources to respond to reports of theft.
‘More visible police would also deter would-be thieves from brazenly taking people’s vehicles in plain sight.’
The Liberal Democrats are also calling for the formation of a specialist team based at the National Crime Agency.
They say, ‘it would pool data from automatic number plate recognition cameras, insurance records and intelligence from police forces and border control to target organised car crime networks.’
The Home Office says it will "continue to support police in delivering further progress to protect our communities from this deeply disruptive crime".
Victoria Collins MP said: “Across my constituency, people rely on their cars to get to work, take their kids to school and get themselves to the doctors and essential services. Local businesses have been hit, and even shut down, because of van thefts. It is an absolute scandal that 77% victims of crime are having their vehicles snatched from them, while the criminals get away scot free.
“How on earth can we expect to deter would-be thieves from stealing people’s cars when so few offenders are actually being brought to justice? I’m hearing from more and more residents who have fallen victim to car theft, yet the Government seems to be asleep at the wheel.”
Daisy Cooper MP said: “These figures are a shocking testament to the scale of this crime, and the uphill battle facing our local police force in tracking down these criminals.
Adding: “The government must finally take this issue seriously by restoring community policing and backing Lib Dem calls for a new specialist team to tackle the organised crime gangs behind these crimes.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Recorded vehicle theft fell by 8% last year, and this government will continue to support police in delivering further progress to protect our communities from this deeply disruptive crime.
“Since 2024, we have strengthened enforcement against organised vehicle theft and exports, delivered over 3,000 extra neighbourhood officers into roles, and backed Hertfordshire Police with up to £314 million in funding – an increase of 5% on the previous year.”