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2 clusters · 9 sources · 24 days · First seen · Last updated

UK crackdown on illegal number plates

Overview

The Department for Transport has initiated a nationwide crackdown in England targeting illegal number plates used by organized crime and drivers seeking to evade fines. This operation, coordinated through the National Roads Policing Coordination Centre (NRPCC), involves intelligence sharing and the trial of new technologies, such as specialized goggles, to detect obscured plates.

Subsequent trials of new camera technology on motorways, including areas near the M25 and Dartford Crossing, have identified thousands of ‘ghost plates’ designed to evade Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems. These plates utilize reflective coatings or cloned registrations to remain unreadable to standard enforcement cameras.

In response to the high detection rates, the Department for Transport is considering stricter penalties. Proposed measures include transitioning the offense from a non-endorsable fine to an endorsable violation carrying penalty points, and granting police the authority to immediately seize vehicles fitted with such plates.

Entities

Department for Transport · UK · MAV Systems · Marc Clothier · Justin Madders

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 4 sources
    UK motorway camera trials detect thousands of illegal ‘ghost plates’

    New camera trials in the UK have detected thousands of ‘ghost plates’ designed to evade ANPR systems, prompting government proposals for immediate vehicle seizures and penalty points.

  2. [CRIME] 5 sources
    England police launch crackdown on illegal number plates

    The UK government is funding the National Roads Policing Coordination Centre to combat illegal number plates and organized crime through intelligence sharing and new detection technology.

Sources

basingstokegazette.co.uk · desiblitz.com · dft.gov.uk · gbnews.com · keighleynews.co.uk · london-tv.co.uk · news.npcc.police.uk · northwalespioneer.co.uk · upday.com