AUTOMATIC Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is a proven technology that has been used for more than 20 years – it is accurate and reliable and its use is leading to the arrest of numerous criminals, the seizure of thousands of un-roadworthy vehicles and the prevention of many offences.

The police service in general and West Mercia Constabulary in particular, along with partner agencies, continue to expand ANPR capabilities.

West Mercia has mobile ANPR units on some of its vehicles and is currently investing in static sites. Hagley and Bromsgrove have had static ANPR cameras for two years and I am pleased to be able to announce there is a brand new static site on one of the main routes through Kidderminster which is in use round the clock.

The cameras work by ‘reading’ the number plates of passing vehicles and comparing them against those held on police databases from across the country.

Cameras can check up to 3,600 number plates an hour – around one per second.

If there is a ‘hit’ the information is passed via radio to officers who will stop the vehicle.

Vehicles are one of the most important tools available to criminals. Through ANPR we can locate and intercept them immediately after a crime has occurred or if the occupants are on the way to committing more offences.

ANPR is one of the most valuable resources that the police has access to in the fight against crime.

Law abiding citizens have nothing to fear from ANPR – only vehicles highlighted as being of interest to the police and our partners because of criminal activities, or, for example, not having valid insurance or MoT, will be stopped or monitored. ANPR is not used to catch speeding motorists.

Chief Inspector Jim Baker