Two MPs raise concerns over the lack of a Government-led strategy to tackle the increase in staged accident
Calls have been made by ministers for a UK-wide action plan to be drawn up to combat the issue of staged and induced motor accidents.
Ribble Valley MPs Nigel Evans and Andrew George, who represents St Ives, have both signed an early day motion calling for a national strategy.
In the motion the ministers highlighted “the worrying increase in staged and induced motor incidents over the last seven years, especially in the North West,” and the “increasing danger that this fraudulent activity poses to public safety as well as its role in pushing up insurance premiums.”
Both MPs welcomed the work of the Insurance Fraud Bureau and AXA UK in raising awareness of the crime's impact and accepted there were a number of Government initiatives designed to address this problem.
But they raised concern that the lack of a national strategy, backed by targeted resources, was hindering adequate detection.
The motion called on the Government to work with the police, the insurance industry and other appropriate authorities to draw up a UK-wide action plan to tackle this issue.
“Ministers highlighted “the worrying increase in staged and induced motor incidents over the last seven years, especially in the North West,” and the “increasing danger that this fraudulent activity poses to public safety as well as its role in pushing up insurance premiums.”
MPs Nigel Evans and Andrew George
IFB research findings indicate that since 1999, over 22,500 fraudulent staged and induced motor accidents have taken place across the country.
Whilst the ‘crash for cash’ scam was first detected in the North West of England, the research conducted by the IFB indicates a significant growth in activity elsewhere in the country, particularly London and the South East.
Typically, in ‘crash for cash’ scams, the fraudsters drive to busy road junctions and perform unexpected, unnecessary and dangerous emergency stops designed to cause innocent members of the public to crash into them.
Claims are made to the innocent motorist’s insurer, often including several accounts of fictitious injuries from members of the criminal gang. For each successful scam, the criminals can net up to £30,000 and there is growing evidence to show that the proceeds from this type of fraud are used to fund other forms of serious crime including drugs trafficking and gun running.
Fraudulent insurance claims meanwhile add 5% to the premiums paid by the honest public.
