Cherished Number Plates News

Number Plates Fight Terrorism

11 September 2008

The New York Police department are testing and researching a counter-terrorism system to operate throughout lower-Manhattan using a system of hi-tech cameras similar to those now in use in London for the congestion charges.

This proposal that has been named Operation Sentinel will be utilised by a central control system of monitors and fascinating hardware. The bases of the highly complicated technology involve the scanning of each number plate of every vehicle as it enters the area. These scans are processed and then stored in a database for at least one month. The thinking behind the system is that if any irregular patterns such as; a particular vehicle circling a location numerous times or constantly driving by the same area, the system will throw up an alert, which will be analysed by a group of professionals. If needs be, the information can be passed on to be investigated including tracking down the driver and passengers.

Other aspects of the system will include moveable roadblocks to stop traffic or divert it and the use of over 3,000 CCTV cameras throughout the area. Another surprising part is equipping police officers within a 50-mile radius of the city with radiation detectors in order to detect any potential nuclear devices. Operation Sentinel involves the deployment of the equipment across many highly congested areas like: the Brooklyn-Battery, Holland, Lincoln and Queens-Midtown Tunnels, and the George Washington, Henry Hudson and Triborough Bridges.

Mr. Browne, who is the spokesman for the project was unable to say when the program would be completed, though the Lower Manhattan initiative is expected to be in place by 2010. “This is just a planning document,” he said of the proposal. “It’s a vision of how it will work if all the components come together.”

This new initiative comes in a time when concern is being expressed for the security of New York as the World Trade Centre area is opened once again for business to the public. Also, since 9-11, a number of plotted terror attacks were discovered by security services in the States, this new Number Plate detection system is just another wall of armour against a potential attack.