Campaigners against car crime in Northern Ireland met Home Office minister Lord Falconer in London yesterday to petition for tougher sentences for offenders, reports the BBC. The pressure group Families Bereaved Through Car Crime has held talks with Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams and the SDLP chairman Alex Atwood. Northern Ireland has a serious problem with car theft and joy-riding, and the group wants a mandatory 15-year sentence for car thieves that have caused a death and tough penalties for passengers of car thieves. It also calls on courts to oppose bail for offenders that have caused a death, and for the families of victims to be kept informed of all proceedings in prosecutions. Finally, FBTCC has asked for a task force to be set up to tackle car crime and a revision of services for youths in badly affected areas and more resources for community groups. They picketed outside Downing Street alongside London group Roadpeace.

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