Motor salvage operators
Vehicle crime is cited as one of the largest single categories
of recorded crime. The Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 has been
introduced to reduce the rising tide of vehicle crime by reducing
the opportunities to dispose of stolen vehicles.
Motor salvage operators are required to:
- Register with the local authority in whose area they are
operating.
- Maintain appropriate records of all vehicle purchases and
disposals.
- Carry out full identification checks of vendors and
purchasers.
- Allow the police (and other investigators) the right of entry
to the premises and the right to search (a warrant is not required
for police to enter a registered premises).
The motor salvage operator may not carry out their business
unless they have registered with the local authority. It is an
offence to operate a motor salvage business that has not been
registered. Summary conviction of this offence may lead to a fine
of up to £5000.
For the purposes of the Act, a person is deemed to be carrying
on a business as a motor salvage operator if they carry out a
business, which consists:
- wholly or partly in the recovery, for re-use or sale, of
salvageable parts from motor vehicles. And the subsequent sale, or
other disposal, for scrap of the remainder of the vehicles
concerned;
- wholly or mainly in the purchases of written-off vehicles, and
their subsequent repair and re-sale;
- wholly or mainly in the sale or purchase of motor
vehicles which are to be the subject (whether immediately or on
subsequent re-sale) of any of the activities in the first and
second points;
- wholly or mainly in activities falling within the second and
third points.
Period of registration
Registration of a motor salvage operation is valid for three
years, commencing from the date that the entry was made in the
council's "Register of Motor Salvage Operators". Motor salvage
operators must submit a application to renew their registration
before it expires, failing to do this will require operations to be
interrupted. An operator will cease to be registered if they have
not made an application for renewal of their existing
registration.
Determination of registration
In deciding whether to approve registration, the City
Corporation must be satisfied that the applicant is a "fit and
proper" person, taking into account various unspent convictions,
including the offences
- Theft or attempted theft of, or from, a motor vehicle -
contrary to Section 1 of the Theft Act 1968.
- Taking a motor vehicle without consent - contrary to Section 12
of the Theft Act 1968.
- Aggravated vehicle taking - contrary to Section 12A of the
Theft Act 1968.
- Handling stolen goods - contrary to section 22 of the Theft Act
1968.
- Going equipped to steal or take a motor vehicle - contrary to
Section 25 of the Theft Act 1968.
- Interference with a motor vehicle - contrary to Section 9 of
the Criminal Attempts Act 1981.
- Tampering with a motor vehicle, contrary to Section 25 of the
Road Traffic Act 1988.
- Convictions for offences under Part 1 of the Vehicle Crimes Act
2001.
For further details please contact the Licensing Team:
Tel 020 7332 3406
Fax 020 7332 3536
Email
Licensing@cityoflondon.gov.uk