A new national police team has been established in England to combat the use of illegal number plates, targeting organized crime groups and drivers who attempt to evade fines. The initiative, spearheaded by the newly-created National Roads Policing Coordination Centre (NRPCC), will centralize data and information from police forces across England.
The NRPCC will foster improved collaboration among police forces and introduce new technologies, including specialized equipment capable of detecting number plates obscured from cameras. Illegal number plates are frequently utilized by organized crime syndicates to transport stolen goods and to avoid penalties associated with speeding, parking, and clean air zones, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).
Drivers found with incorrectly displayed or missing number plates face fines of up to £1,000. The use of illegal plates can take various forms, such as cloned plates that mimic the registration of legitimate vehicles or ghost plates that employ transparent films to evade camera detection. Vehicles equipped with such plates are more difficult for law enforcement to track if stolen or linked to criminal activities.
Policing and crime minister Sarah Jones stated that illegal number plates are not a victimless offense, as they enable criminals to evade detection, transport illicit goods, and hinder law enforcement efforts. She added that by uniting police forces and leveraging advanced technology, the new team is expected to expedite the apprehension of offenders and disrupt criminal networks.
Ch Supt Marc Clothier, deputy national co-ordinator for the NRPCC, highlighted the effectiveness of targeted, intelligence-led operations in addressing offenders and assisting drivers in ensuring their number plates comply with regulations, as demonstrated in previous operations targeting ghost plates.