A new law under consideration by MPs would require manufacturers to take greater responsibility in the fight against rural crime by making it mandatory for immobilisers to be fitted on quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles.
The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill, introduced by Buckingham MP Greg Smith, aims to prevent the theft and re-sale of equipment and tools used by farmers and tradespeople.
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Portable and valuable, quad bikes have long been top targets for rural thieves and Mr Smith said it was “almost unfathomable” that immobilisers were not fitted as standard.
Speaking during the bill’s second reading in the House of Commons, Mr Smith added: “It is striking to me, and has been somewhat surprising the more I have researched it, that the rollout of these security features has been so slow that some leading manufacturers have used the very same basic key system for 35 years.”
Under the proposals, dealers would be required to keep records of equipment and machinery they have sold and the details of the purchasers.
Forensic marking would be mandatory at the point of sale, with the information logged on a national database available to all police forces in the country.
Mr Smith said immobilisers and forensic marking could significantly reduce the theft of quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles.
“Farmers deserve as much as anyone else to operate in a safe and secure environment,” he said. “That means getting ahead of the criminal gangs who are perpetrating thefts of these vehicles.”
The Countryside Alliance welcomed the proposals.
Government relations manager David Bean said: “Rural people tell us time and time again about the devastating impact tool and vehicle theft has on them, and it is vital we remain steadfast in our approach to clamping down on thieves.”
The bill, which has cross-party support, will now move to the committee stage in the House of Commons where amendments can be proposed by MPs.
