Rosslare Europort To Snap All Number Plates

Last month I provided you with my thoughts about new Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras being introduced at Manchester Airport. Well, I've just read that Rosslare Europort, based at Rosslare Harbour, Ireland will soon be adopting the same type of cameras in an effort to track and identify vehicles far more quickly.

Currently, officers have to scroll through hours of CCTV footage if they want to track a number plate. If you consider how many vehicles must enter the popular modern seaport, or Manchester Airport, it seems the cameras are the only answer to tracking car registrations.
Every single vehicle that enters and leaves Rosslare Europort will be snapped by the ANPR cameras, and Revenue officers will then be able to track anyone they suspect of carrying illegal items, such as drugs, far more quickly.

But, as I mentioned last month, there are many number plates that are currently untraceable due to the current law regarding foreign plates. In the UK, foreign visitors only have to register number plates if they are staying for more than six months. Now, why would anyone visit for that long, I can't help but wonder? Apparently, a bill is going through Parliament at the moment which should mean that ALL plates are traceable.

Overall, even though officers may come across a plate that's unregistered now and again, I do think that these cameras are a good idea. But perhaps just in particularly busy places...

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