·         Police received 164,386 reports of criminal damage to vehicles – over 3,000 per week

·         British Transport Police, Northumbria Police and Cleveland Police saw the biggest increases in vehicle vandalism year-on-year

·         A deep scratch on paintwork can cost £300 to repair and a slashed tyre £110 to replace  

Vandals have attacked more than 3,000 vehicles each week in England and Wales, reveals new research¹ from Churchill Motor Insurance. In 2022, police forces received 164,386 reports of criminal damage to vehicles – equivalent to 3,161 each week. In the first three months of 2023, a further 38,166 reports of this crime were made to the police, suggesting the rate has continued at around 3,000 per week.

Train stations are a hotbed for vehicle vandalism, seeing the biggest annual increase compared to other police jurisdictions. The British Transport Police received 637 reports of criminal damage to vehicles in 2022 – a 35 per cent increase from the 472 cases in 2021. Northumbria Police (16 per cent) and Cleveland Police (13 per cent) saw the second and third biggest year-on-year increases in vehicle vandalism respectively. The Metropolitan Police (16,013), West Midlands Police (10,804), and Greater Manchester Police (9,676) received the most reports of criminal damage to vehicles last year.

Car vandalism can be particularly costly for victims. A deep scratch to a car’s paintwork could cost £300 to repair². If a tyre has been slashed, it can cost £100 to be replaced with an additional £10 cost to rebalance the wheel³.

Nicholas Mantel, Head of Churchill Motor Insurance, said: “Angry or malicious vandals can cause stress and upset for victims as well as hundreds of pounds worth of damage to vehicles. If repairs aren’t made to even the smallest of scratches and dents, the condition of the vehicle will deteriorate, and this could significantly impact the resale value.

“This is a crime that has long lasting implications for car owners and we strongly advise victims to report instances of vandalism to the police.”

Table one: Criminal damage to vehicles  

Source: Churchill Motor Insurance 2023

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

1.       Churchill Analysis of reported criminal damage to Police Forces across England and Wales

2.       Checkatrade - Deep paintwork scratch repair average cost - https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/car-scratch-repair-cost/

3.       Checkatrade – mid-range tyre average cost - https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/tyre-change-cost/

 

For further information please contact:

Hayley Saunders

PR Manager

Email: Hayley.saunders@directlinegroup.co.uk  

 

Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home, travel and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line.

Churchill general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. 

Churchill and U K Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.