JUDGING of the new look British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association's annual vehicle security award has started. The 1997 awards have been renamed the British Security Awards - previously called the BVRLA's annual security award -and they have been expanded to four categories:

The awards are in their ninth year, with Vauxhall having dominated the previous contests, winning on five occasions. Other winners have been Rover, BMW and Jaguar. Following last week's preliminary judging in the BVRLA awards a shortlist of vehicles will be subject to testing by the Metropolitan Police Stolen Vehicle Squad before final judging takes place next month. The awards will be presented in January.

Judges include representatives of the BVRLA, the Home Office Crime Prevention Centre, the Metropolitan Police Stolen Vehicle Squad, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Association of British Insurers and Ashley Martin, editor of FNN's sister title Fleet News.