A national police squad has been established in the United Kingdom to combat the growing issue of illegal number plates, utilizing approximately £150 night-vision goggles. The National Roads Policing Co-ordination Centre (NRPCC) will consolidate forces across England to enhance intelligence sharing, collaboration, and the deployment of advanced technology in a coordinated effort.
The unit aims to disrupt organized crime gangs that employ cloned, false, or concealed number plates to evade detection during criminal activities. A significant focus will also be placed on drivers using "ghost plates," which are illegally modified or treated to appear normal to the naked eye but become unreadable or distorted when viewed by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems. These systems use infrared and optical technology that the ghost plates are designed to circumvent.
To identify these illicit plates, NRPCC officers will employ night-vision goggles, specifically the Nightfox Whisker digital model, which are typically designed for wildlife observation. These devices function as digital infrared camera systems, capturing low-light scenes and displaying them on an internal screen. They are equipped with a built-in 850nm infrared LED torch, enabling officers to see in darkness up to approximately 270 meters (300 yards). The goggles can also operate in an "ambient light mode" during twilight, using available natural light without the infrared emitter. Footage can be recorded in full HD 1080p and saved to a microSD card, providing officers with visual evidence against offenders.
Drivers found displaying incorrectly fitted, altered, or missing number plates can face fines of up to £1,000. Illegal number plates are frequently used by organized crime groups to transport stolen goods and avoid penalties such as speeding, parking, and clean air zone charges. Cloned plates, which replicate the registration numbers of legitimate vehicles, are often used for offenses like fuel theft, known as 'bilking.'
"Ghost plates," which use transparent films or sprays to obscure registrations from cameras, have become a growing concern, particularly with the surge in online sellers marketing such products. Research from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety indicated that as many as one in 15 vehicles on the road might be displaying ghost plates.
Greater Manchester Police has been trialing and using these goggles for over a year. Their sex offender management unit has used them to verify if offenders' vehicles are fitted with ghost plates to evade ANPR cameras and breach bail conditions related to travel restrictions. The force's tactical vehicle intercept unit has also deployed the goggles to assist in locating stolen vehicles and identifying cars used by burglary gangs. Additionally, taxi drivers attempting to evade charges at airport drop-off and pick-up zones by using ghost plates have been targeted.
Following successful trials, Manchester City Council purchased 60 pairs of the goggles for its roads policing officers and other units. Policing minister Sarah Jones stated that the technology will enable officers to track down gangs and offenders using ghost plates more quickly and disrupt organized criminal networks. She emphasized that illegal number plates are not victimless offenses, as they facilitate criminal activity. Ministers are reportedly considering new legislation for the upcoming Road Safety Strategy to address illegal number plates, potentially including tougher penalties for offenders.