ABOUT US
BACKGROUND
Having spent a collective of some 60 years working within Thatcham Research and the Metropolitan Police, setting vehicle Insurance ratings and security standards for both the Aftermarket and vehicle OEM’s and pushing best practice for all vehicle types form information gained on the street through police across the globe.
Promoting and providing research and corrective actions leading to consultancy for both the Aftermarket and OEM's which drove down passenger car theft down from 625,000 to 75,000.
Using aftermarket and OEM systems of all vehicle and equipment types to withstand and counter theft and fraud.
In turn assisting brands with brand protection and insurers from possible fraud and supporting police with expert witness statements and vehicle identification.
Respected within the industry for providing trustworthy advice in a highly confidential field with many different stakeholders.
TASSA
With the loss of recognition and standards for the Aftermarket and Installers, VSST Ltd was asked to establish a programme that would give reassurance and credibility to customers having systems fitted. From this TASSA was created.
Mike Briggs
Working in the automotive industry for past 35 years, 22 of those at the insurer’s research centre – Thatcham.
Joining as a Vehicle Security Engineer in 1995 and then becoming the manager,
Mike lead the team opening new paths to predominantly work with Vehicle Manufacturers, police forces, Governments and other vehicle security organisations on a global basis, with the overall remit of finding solutions to reduce vehicle crime.
Responsible for security updates that drove down car crime from over 625,000 cars to just over 75,000 cars stolen and the creation of criteria to combat vehicle enabled crime against other vehicle types. The theft of construction plant and agricultural vehicle has not gone untouched, the standards are continually being pushed higher along with tracking and cyber style crimes whether connected or transmitted.
Setting standards for alarms/immobilisers, other electrical, mechanical and tracking systems and installation of systems for all vehicle types, enabling the right system to be fitted to the right vehicle type.
He has influenced many countries around the world, with one engineer permanently based in South East Asia, support for Sweden through TFF Motor Insurance in maintaining a reduced theft risk for Swedish market and worked in a range of other countries throughout Europe. Also where vehicle enabled crime is the common denominator assisting tackling vehicle crime in America, Canada, Japan, Korea and Russia
In July 2016 Mike has took on the new challenge and started his own company VSST Ltd to maintain standards and find solutions against theft threats with key stakeholders such as police, Government, the Aftermarket tracking and security systems suppliers forming the Tracking and Aftermarket Security System Association (TASSA), insurers, vehicle manufacturers, and others in the continuing battle against crime across the globe.
Simon Ashton
Having worked with the Organised Vehicle Crime Unit, part of New Scotland Yard, Simon had a direct and unique responsibility to work with vehicle manufacturers and insurers to recognise the risk, harm, and threat, from vehicle theft and fraud. This is identified through the analysis and knowledge of criminal behaviour and methods used to attack and steal vehicles. Simon worked within training police officers in auto identification not only for the Metropolitan police but the UK as a whole. He also trained officers for the Vehicle Industry, the Insurance Industry and those recognised companies within the security world and now VSST Ltd to problem profile areas of vulnerability and continue working to 'Design out Crime'.
Simon’s main responsibility within London's Metropolitan Police area was identifying the current attack methods and modern devices used to orchestrate theft which was and still is organised and targeted. ''This area of speciality and expertise allowed me to be a conduit between the Police and outside organisations and the Law Enforcement network''.
As a result Simon sat on various panels and boards, some of which he chaired, throughout the UK, sharing the knowledge and expertise he had attained.
An example of the panels are: The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group (MCRG), Thatcham Vehicle Security liaison group, the British Vehicle Rental Leasing Association (BVRLA), as well as the Home Office groups that he advised.
Simon’s area of work did not only impact on cars, but also commercial vehicles, motorcycles and plant equipment, and areas of Insurance fraud.
Areas of success have directly impacted on the Home Office concerning keyless vehicle theft; the CESAR security marking scheme on Plant and Agricultural machinery and the MASTER scheme which is a similar system for motorcycles and scooters.
After retiring from the Metropolitan police Simon started working as a vehicle security consultant and has now joined forces with VSST Ltd, promoting TASSA as a solutions provider.
All of this knowledge and experience will be used to ensure VSST Ltd customers get solutions for vehicle crime problems that we all face.