# UK crackdown on illegal number plates > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uk-crackdown-on-illegal-number-plates > Updated: 2026-09-28T09:17:17.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2. 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. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-28: 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. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-motorway-camera-trials-detect-thousands-of-illegal-ghost-plates ### 2026-09-05: 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. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/england-police-launch-crackdown-on-illegal-number-plates --- Cite as: UK crackdown on illegal number plates. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uk-crackdown-on-illegal-number-plates