Cherished Number Plates News

Number Plate Recognition Heads North

27 August 2008

Greater Manchester Police has brought in number plate recognition cameras at a variety of sites around Manchester Airport.

The technology, already widely used in and around London, allows the automatic identification of number plates using fixed cameras, and will allow police to check for uninsured and stolen vehicles or those involved in crime.

The cameras can scan over half a million number plates a day, which are then checked against information stored on the DVLA's database as well as the Police National Computer.

Superintendent Peter Turner (the Manchester Airport Commander) said: "This is unique in its ability to impact on crime at every level, from local volume crime through to cross border and organised crime and counter terrorism. These new fixed camera sites will provide police officers with an additional source of information during the vital early stages of major investigations and will also assist in our continued fight against terrorism."