Theft – Rearranging The Deckchairs

UK – The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) has announced the launch of a new motorcycle & scooter anti-theft security “star rating” programme. This is designed to recognise and highlight to buyers which anti-theft devices are fitted or supplied as standard on new motorcycles and scooters.

The new rating scheme will be known as ‘MCIA Secured’, presented at the Home Office, the initiative has been developed, according to the MCIA, in response to the rise in motorcycle and scooter theft and the significant increase in scooters being used to enable further crime, which has been a particular problem in London.

MCIA say that they have been working with the support of the major motorcycle manufacturers, with all participating manufacturers models within its range, scored against the programme criteria and be awarded a star for each layer of security fitted as standard, to a maximum of 5 Stars.

This will include the following device categories:

Steering lock

Immobiliser

Alarm

Tracker

MASTER Security System (Scheme – powered by Datatag – launched in 2012)

MCIA states that locks, chains and covers and other types of physical security, will not be included within the programme, although participating manufacturers will be required to ensure their franchised retailers offer locks and other types of security devices at the point of sale as an inclusive part of this initiative – Whilst ‘MCIA Secured’ will only recognise security devices which meet either Type Approval regulations or are Thatcham tested, depending on whether they are fitted by dealers or supplied and fitted as standard.

In response to this, locks and chains along with disc locks and ground anchors are often the main defence against theft. However, as they are not an integral part of the motorcycle it is no surprise that they are not covered as the manufacturers’ scope of responsibility.

The first physical line of defence on a motorcycle is the steering lock, in a layered approach to security of course.

All motorcycles sold in the European market must meet type approval regulations in conjunction with UN Regulation Regulation No. 62 – Anti-theft (mopeds/motorcycles) that “All two- or three-wheel motor vehicles, with the exception of mopeds, must be fitted with a protective device intended to prevent unauthorized use which meets the requirements contained in this Directive. Where a device intended to prevent unauthorized use is fitted to a moped, it must meet the requirements contained in this Directive.” and “The protective device must form part of the vehicle’s original equipment.”

The interesting part of the regulation is that if the steering lock is of a type that is “solely and positively operated on the steering alone” or “Solely operated on the steering in conjunction with the device which de-activates the engine of the vehicle” or “Pre-loaded, operating on the steering in conjunction with the device which de-activates the engine of the vehicle” it must be “able to withstand the application in both directions and under static conditions of a torque of 20 m daN (which is equivalent to approx. 200Nm) along the axis of the steering spindle.”

As we know this offers no protection whatsoever in breaking steering locks with not much physical effort of leverage applied to the handlebars. Consider that these regulations were originally written decades ago and only amended to update dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s.

There is nothing much to add about alarms other than they operate in varying degrees to protect the motorcycle or inform the rider that they have been activated.

The Master Security Scheme which is voluntary is only fitted to new officially imported UK motorcycles and scooters and sold marked, tagged, registered and traceable by the Scheme.

This new MCIA scheme is for new motorcycles, whilst riders of older machine will have to or would be recommended to invest in all or some of the security mentioned. Although we have heard that some riders will not engage their steering locks as the damage that can be caused by the thieves in an attempt to steal the motorcycle to the steering lock, ignition or frame will be expensive if the bike has been successfully stolen but recovered as repairable.

Trackers now seem to be one of the best method for recovery of a motorcycle but have their own complications of the thieves’ awareness how they work e.g. a stolen bike will be parked up to see if it is located and recovered, with top of the range systems being expensive.

How this cost is being offset is not entirely clear as these devices are being offered, as far as we understand, fitted or supplied as standard on new motorcycles and scooters. As MCIA CEO Tony Campbell said, “We believe by introducing this new scheme highlighting which anti-theft devices are fitted as standard will help the customer make more informed choices and raise awareness of the importance of protecting their motorcycle or scooter from criminals”

From Passive To Pro-Active

MCIA CEO Tony Campbell goes on to say, ““The market has suffered damage especially in London, many riders have chosen to give up on using a motorcycle or scooter due to repeated theft. MCIA Secured will recognise the efforts manufacturers have made up until now but also encourage the inclusion and further development of new technologies as they come available.”

“As an industry, we have been working closely with the Home Office and all other stakeholders in order to reduce crime involving motorcycles & scooters, adding additional security in layers and raising awareness to the riders will help but, we are calling for local government to improve secure parking and more recognition for the users of powered two wheelers within planning and transport policy”.

MCIA comments that last September, Home office ministers brought together government departments, motorcycle and insurance industry leaders, the police, local government agencies, charities and representatives from the motorcycle riding community. There was a full and open discussion according to the MCIA about the nature and scale of these crimes, and about what more can be done to prevent offending and keep the public safe took place.

MCIA goes on to say that in January, ministers brought partners back together to review the progress being made, with positive developments being achieved in a number of areas including: addressing gaps in the evidence about the nature and scale of these crimes; improving understanding of offender motivations and identifying opportunities for early interventions to prevent young people being drawn into this type of crime; exploring more secure parking facilities and looking at the security on powered two-wheeled vehicles to prevent their theft and use in further crimes; ensuring that sentences reflect the full impact these crimes have on victims and the wider community.

However, what the MCIA seem to have forgotten to mention is that also in January of this year, the representatives from Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW, Piaggio, the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) and Secure by Design attended a summit In January (2018) with the Metropolitan Police and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).

From this meeting the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan was reported to have tasked manufacturers with improving the design of new motorcycles to make them more difficult to steal. The response from the Motorcycle Industry (MCIA) to Mayor Khan’s appeal was that while major manufacturers were able to explain what has and is being done and to discuss how City Hall can support this, the industry representatives emphasised that there is no ‘silver bullet’ fix.

The Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability Victoria Atkins, from this recent meeting stated, “I welcome the MCIA Secured programme, which demonstrates that our industry partners are playing their part in tackling crimes involving motorcycles, mopeds and scooters.”

“The Home Office recognises that this is a complex issue with no one quick fix, which is why last September we brought together government departments, the police, industry and civil partners to work together to develop a plan to prevent these crimes and keep the public safe.”

“I would urge everyone buying a motorcycle, moped or scooter to consult MCIA Secured programme when purchasing their vehicles.”

Yesterday – 6th June 2018 –  Home Office ministers hosted the latest roundtable on moped crime with police leaders and industry partners where they discussed what more can be done to prevent offending and keep the public safe from moped attacks.   It appears that there were no representatives of the motorcycling community, that we are aware of.

According to news story, “The Metropolitan Police provided an update to ministers, the Motorcycle Industry Association and the London Mayor’s Office on their latest statistics on moped-enabled crime which shows that there has been a steady fall in offences in London in the last 6 months.

This decline has been aided by the deployment of new tactics such as the use of off-road bikes to aid pursuits and the use of DNA marker sprays to link suspects to the crimes.

Policing Minister Nick Hurd said – The Metropolitan Police is working hard to tackle moped crime, which has been falling virtually month-on-month in the capital since its peak in July last year.” and We are determined to support the police in their fight against crime and that is why we are consulting to change the law to give officers greater confidence to chase suspects on the roads.”

Home Office ministers also welcomed the introduction of MCIA Secured at the meeting.

As we report last week – Pursuits – Smashing The Myth – the UK Governments Home Office announced, “That a consultation will be launched on proposed changes to the law around police pursuits. This includes making clear in legislation that a suspect is responsible for their own decision to drive dangerously and amending the law for careless and dangerous driving offences to recognise a police officer’s level of training and skill. The changes are aimed at tackling moped crime and giving police more confidence.”

If you follow for example the Met Police on their social media pages you will see that they are “fighting” as best they can to halt and arrest the crime and theft around the use and taking of motorcycles.

While the report from this latest meeting has a smattering of rhetoric, one item from the release does make sense, “The evidence is very clear that the drivers of serious violence are complex and should not be reduced to individual factors. Our new Serious Violence Strategy puts a stronger focus on steering young people away from violence while continuing to ensure the strongest possible law enforcement response.” which we hope it not in itself just rhetoric and is a meaningful strategy.

Rearranging The Deck Chairs

The past few days have seen the reporting of motorcycle enabled crime from a well know comedian. He was attacked and robbed of his high-end watch by hammer wielding riding gang as he waited outside his child’s school; a young woman was in a serious condition after being punched to the ground by two men on a “moped” and the theft of bikes just goes on and on.

We recognise that the industry is perhaps between a rock and a hard place as regards their responsibility of providing bikes that are secured and while introducing this new scheme for new bikes is on a list of good ideas, riders have always been burdened with “arming” themselves with the security being offered as standard on new bikes purchased.

Riders have come together on social media, offering advice and taking action, working with the police, talking with authorities and protesting on the streets not just in London.

The police are tackling theft and crime with the resources and with the legislation in place as best they can.

We just can’t help think that all these security devices at best secure motorcycles from theft by “honest” people and that until a larger social problem is addressed we are just – Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Original Source – Motorcycle Industry Association announces a new motorcycle & scooter anti-theft security rating programme

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Story Behind The Picture

The picture used in this article is from the PSNI – Police Service of Northern Ireland – On Facebook – where two German tourists who had just arrived in Northern Ireland had their motorcycle combination stolen and burnt out on the first night of their stay.

The PSNI stated, “They had planned to spend a month touring round and visiting. Their vehicle is a one-off custom-made worth in excess of £15000. To describe them as being devasted when they saw what had become of their bike hardly comes close.

To those who took this bike or were involved in its destruction…hang your heads in shame. This was a callous act by cowardly thieves who skulk about under the cover of darkness. You know exactly who you are and what you’ve done.”

The Northern Ireland  newspaper the Newsletter has highlighted the theft and reported that a fundraising page has been set-up by Let Youth Lead Youth Taking Action Committee who has said, “We are in complete and utter disgust as it has forced them to move away from where they are staying and left them financially struggling and extremely upset,”

“We spoke to the couple and got their email address to keep in contact with them. Out of kindness and outrage of the news we would like to try and raise money to help financially support them with their travels around the North and pay them back for this outrageous arson attack.”