If you're a driver then, whether you know it or not, you have probably seen ANPR cameras. What's more, your number plates have probably been recorded and checked by them.
We in the UK are reportedly amongst the most watched nations in the world when it comes to CCTV and traffic cameras. Estimates rank us in fourth place, behind the USA, China and Germany. A 2022 survey put the total number of private and official CCTV cameras at nearly 7.5 million. When it comes to surveillance of traffic, the estimated number of cameras is lower but still substantial - and growing.
What is ANPR?
As we have briefly explained before, ANPR, or automatic number plate recognition is, as you may well know, a system for reading, identifying and recording vehicle number plates. It was developed in the 1970s but many people still don't really know much about it. Basically, cameras record registration numbers from number plates and the system converts what the camera sees into data that can be stored and analysed. The information is usually sent to computer servers where it is checked against records of what the police call 'vehicles of interest'.
For a closer look at how the technology works, read our article on plate recognition.
It's a bit of a broad term for a range of technologies of various ages and levels of sophistication. These days, ANPR cameras can record images digitally, recognise the characters shown in the images and transmit that extracted information remotely to the servers. Earlier versions, still widely used, take analogue images and provide video data rather than intelligently extracting the registration number information like the newer versions.
Even some general-purpose CCTV and other cameras can be used for ANPR. It all depends how the recorded video data can be processed. This makes it a little tricky to define exactly what is and what isn't an ANPR camera and makes it harder to get exact figures for the number of cameras. In 2021 it was estimated that there were around 11,000 ANPR cameras in the UK, sending more than 50 million 'read records' a day (now more than 60 million). Some of them are in fixed positions on roads while others are mobile units mounted in police vehicles.
What are the benefits?
The police consider ANPR an extremely valuable tool for both reducing and detecting crime. The system can spot, identify and locate uninsured vehicles, cloned number plates, cars used in crime, cars that evade emissions charges and tolls, cars that fail to obey traffic lights, cars that drive away from petrol stations without paying and much more. Some of the applications have a direct bearing on road safety so a strong case for their use can easily be made. Similarly, people and businesses who have been the victims of crime often appreciate the improved chances of catching the criminals and recovering property.
If your number plate has been cloned, ANPR can actually help detect it. Read our guide on cloned number plates to find out what to do if this happens to you.
ANPR can also help with planning and managing traffic flow. Identifying vehicles makes it possible to establish journey times and other information that can inform decisions on things like traffic lights and roundabouts. It also makes it easier to provide the public with estimates of journey times and delays when there are problems on the roads.
What are the downsides?
The obvious objection, and the most common, is that of invasion of privacy. It is a fact that ANPR will record any number plate that passes its cameras, not just the ones used by crooks. It's just technology, it isn't psychic, so until it records images and checks the data it can't tell an innocent motorist from a criminal. Fortunately, like most other collection and use of private data, the information collected by ANPR is subject to rules and regulations.
Paradoxically, although ANPR can help detect cloned number plates, it can also be the reason some unfortunate drivers receive penalty charges for the offences committed by those who use cloned number plates! In order to tackle that particular problem it is important that motorists should inform the police and DVLA immediately if they suspect that someone may have copied their number plates.
A word of warning
We can understand why many people feel ambivalent about ANPR, and CCTV in general; however, even if you feel that your rights and privacy are threatened, you should be careful if you're tempted to try to dodge being watched.
It is illegal to mask, alter, cover or obscure your number plates to make them unreadable or to prevent them being recorded by cameras. That includes the use of non-permanent measures such as sprays or lights that are supposed to prevent your number showing on imaging equipment.
For real examples of illegal number plates and the consequences drivers faced, read our article on law-breaking drivers and illegal number plates, or for a full breakdown of the rules and specifications, see our guide to number plate rules, regulations and specifications.
In addition to the risk of penalties, you could also be wasting your money, as even the small number of products that work at all are only effective with certain types of cameras - usually older ones that are being phased out anyway.
Like it or not, surveillance cameras are a fairly unavoidable fact of life in 21st century Britain and many other places.
What happens if an ANPR camera can't read your number plate?
If an ANPR camera can't read your plate, it doesn't just get ignored. The system flags it, and in many cases a human operator will review the image manually. If your plate looks like it has been deliberately obscured or tampered with, the matter could be passed to the police. Displaying a plate that doesn't meet the legal standard can result in a fine of up to £1,000.
The most common reasons a plate might not be read include:
- Mud, ice or grime can make a plate impossible to photograph clearly. Keeping your plate clean is actually a legal requirement, not just a cosmetic one.
- Cracked, warped or faded plates become harder to read over time and should be replaced as soon as possible.
- Plates that don't use the correct Charles Wright font or have altered spacing are among the most common causes of ANPR misreads.
- A plate that isn't straight or is partially blocked by a screw or bolt cover can also cause problems.
If you are not sure whether your plate is readable, here are a few quick checks:
- Stand about 20 metres away and use a torch to check it is clean, reflective and easy to read
- Check that screws or bolt covers aren't blocking any characters
- If your plate is cracked, faded or damaged, get it replaced
If in doubt, replacing your plates with new ones is the safest and simplest option. As a DVLA registered number plate supplier, Regtransfers can supply road-legal number plates that meet all the required standards.
Keeping your number plates road legal and ANPR ready
Keeping your plates ANPR ready is simpler than it sounds. A plate made to the correct standard, kept clean and securely fitted, will be read correctly every time. Problems almost always come down to plates that have been modified, have deteriorated, or were not made to the right standard in the first place.
All number plates supplied by Regtransfers comply with DVLA standards, so if you are buying a private number plate you can be confident it will be road legal and ANPR ready from day one.
ANPR and your rights
The UK's data protection legislation limits the collection and use of data, including that gathered by ANPR.
The police store ANPR data for one year. Access to, and use of, that data is limited: staff usually only have access to it when it is directly necessary to their role, and then only for 90 days from the date of collection. The data is not sold on or shared with commercial organisations.
More information
How the police use ANPR data and the rules regarding that.
National ANPR Service: Rights of Data Subjects Notice (PDF, 283kb) - Your rights and the rules intended to safeguard you from misuse of ANPR data.
Find your perfect private number plate
Whether you are looking for a private number plate or need road-legal replacement plates, Regtransfers has everything you need. Browse our range of over 60 million private number plates or call us on 01582 967777, 9am to 9pm, 7 days a week. Alternatively, you can contact us through our contact form.
