The Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) says it has been working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to tackle motor fraud and wider financial crime since September 2007.

Now the organisation is supporting Car Crime Awareness Week (17-23 May) which has been launched by ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) to raise awareness of this type of organised crime and help car buyers to protect themselves.

Paul Harrison, head of motor finance at the FLA, said: 'The FLA is pleased to support the first-ever Car Crime Awareness Week. Crime committed against finance companies affects the motor industry and its customers. By working with the police, finance companies are able to detect and prosecute fraudsters, and recover their cars. If these stolen cars had not been recovered then lenders losses may have been passed onto law-abiding customers through higher interest rates.'

Head of AVCIS, detective chief inspector Mark Hooper, added: 'Our partners, such as the FLA are instrumental in helping us reduce vehicle theft and related offences, but this can only happen by removing cars as an asset for criminals. Car Crime Awareness Week has been established as an annual reminder for motorists to be vigilant, in order to prevent becoming a victim of crime.'