A major road safety crisis is unfolding across the UK, with a startling investigation revealing that as many as one in every fifteen vehicles is now fitted with fraudulent 'ghost' number plates. The widespread use of these bogus plates has led Birmingham to declare a formal road safety emergency.
A System in Crisis: How Ghost Plates Evade Justice
The problem is not confined to backstreet operations. Alarmingly, many of these illegal plates are sold openly by suppliers who are officially registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). An investigation found numerous sellers operating from private homes or small workshops, often without any proper background checks. In some cases, individuals handling customers' sensitive identity documents were found to have previous criminal convictions for violence and fraud.
Dr Stuart Barnes, who tested the plates at Cranfield University, emphasised the severity of the issue in an interview with the Daily Mail. "A number plate is like the vehicle version of a passport, and it should be treated with the same level of importance and security," he stated. He explained that while the plates might look convincing to the human eye, they present a serious challenge to automated camera systems designed to read them.
From Fines to Organised Crime: The Consequences
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety (APPGTS) highlighted how abusing the number plate system facilitates a wide spectrum of offences. These range from dodging road charges, congestion fees, and speeding fines to enabling more serious crimes like drug trafficking and organised crime. The group pointed out that evading Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras can sometimes require "nothing more sophisticated than cellophane, leaves or a marker pen."
Former Government surveillance camera commissioner, Fraser Sampson, drew a powerful analogy. "Imagine if we did that with currency and said, 'I promise I won't use this in a shop'" he said, noting that once fraudulent plates enter circulation, controlling their use becomes impossible.
Calls for Immediate Government Action
In response to the explosive findings, the APPGTS has issued a series of urgent recommendations to overhaul a system it describes as "failing." Key proposals include:
- Significantly reducing the number of licensed number plate sellers from the current 34,455 by introducing annual fees and much higher operating standards.
- Standardising the design of plates, including a ban on 3D and 4D versions that can confuse cameras.
- Implementing rigorous background checks for all sellers.
Sarah Coombes, APPGTS member and Labour MP for West Bromwich, issued a stark warning: "This explosive report lays bare the threat posed by ghost and cloned plates... It’s totally wrong that people can commit terrible crimes and then set themselves up as number plate sellers with no questions asked. Those selling these illegal plates have gone under the radar for too long – but now they’ve been rumbled. I hope the Government cracks down on them immediately." The pressure is now on ministers to act swiftly to close the loopholes allowing this dangerous practice to flourish on British roads.
