Labour has backed roads policing teams to launch a nationwide crackdown on drivers flouting rules with illegal number plates.
The Department for Transport has created the National Roads Policing Coordination Centre to bring together police forces around England.
They will share intelligence, improve collaboration and make better use of data to tackle drivers dodging fines and organised crime gangs.
As part of the campaign, new technology will be deployed, including specialised goggles to detect number plates where drivers have obscured the letters and numbers.
Illegal number plates have become a more common issue in recent years as criminals clone other people’s plates or make them unreadable to cameras.
They are often used in road crimes to flout speeding fines, parking penalties or to avoid Clean Air Zone charges.
Illegal number plates have also become a common sight in organised crime networks who move illegal goods through the strategic road network.
The DfT highlighted that vehicles which use illegal number plates make it harder for the police to track using recognition cameras.
With the new funding from the Government and the creation of the NRPCC, police forces around England will be able to better target crime gangs and drivers flouting road rules.
Roads Minister Justin Madders praised the fresh crackdown, noting that Labour was “stepping in to protect drivers”.
“This is a signal to anyone using illegal number plates that their time is up. We will catch you and our roads and streets will be safer for it,” Mr Madders said.
It also coincides with the rise in illegal “ghost plates”, which involve using a transparent film to make the registration undetectable to cameras.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- UK’s best-selling cars include Mini and Ford as Chinese brands also reach top 10 – full list
- Elon Musk hails launch of self-driving Tesla Cybercab which comes without pedals or a steering wheel
- Volkswagen announces plan to cut 50,000 jobs by 2030 as four factories could close
Labour MP Sarah Coombes has led the charge to crack down on “ghost plates”, with proposals to slap motorists with hefty fines and licence points.
Chief Superintendent Marc Clothier, Deputy National Coordinator for the National Roads Policing Coordination Centre, emphasised that the police forces involved in tackling the issue have already shared intelligence to make changes.
He added: “The testing and sharing of new approaches and developing innovation has been incredibly valuable and we look forward to building on this as we progress to our next operational focus.
“Thanks to the funding from DfT, we have a valuable opportunity to support road safety and roads policing across the UK with enhanced national coordination, consistency, collaboration and communication across policing, Government and the wider road safety community.”
The DVSA and DVLA continue to collaborate with police forces to identify illegal number plates and enforce against drivers using them.
This has involved supporting investigations into businesses supplying the number plates, as well as roadside operations.
Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones said: “By bringing forces together and making better use of technology and intelligence, this new team will help police track down offenders faster and disrupt organised crime groups that rely on our road network.
“We are determined to give police every advantage in the fight against serious and organised crime, while making our roads safer for everyone.”
Our Standards:
The GB News Editorial Charter
