The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed a new nationwide crackdown on illegal number plates, with drivers facing fines of up to £1,000. The initiative, greenlit by Andy Burnham's government, aims to target motorists who dodge fines and organised crime gangs using illegal plates for serious offences.
The National Roads Policing Coordination Centre (NRPCC) will coordinate police forces from across England as part of the push. The operation will trial new technology and make it harder for those with illegal plates to evade detection.
Government and police response
Roads Minister Justin Madders said: "We're cracking down on illegal number plates with new policing resource and innovative tech. Illegal number plates are used for crimes from evading parking charges to drug trafficking and we're stepping in to protect drivers. This is a signal to anyone using illegal number plates that their time is up. We will catch you and our roads and streets will be safer for it."
Drivers using an incorrectly displayed number plate can be fined up to £1,000. The crackdown also targets organised crime gangs, with the Labour Party government confirming that the NRPCC will bring together police forces from around England.
Operational focus and collaboration
Chief Superintendent Marc Clothier, Deputy National Coordinator for the NRPCC, said: "Through the National Roads Policing Coordination Centre, our mission is to tackle the biggest risks to road safety, enhancing and developing the police response to criminality both on and off the roads."
He added: "The police forces involved in our ghost plates operation have shown how effective a targeted and intelligence-led approach is in tackling offenders as well as educating and supporting drivers in ensuring their number plates are compliant. The testing and sharing of new approaches and developing innovation has been incredibly valuable and we look forward to building on this as we progress to our next operational focus."
Clothier also noted: "Thanks to the funding from DfT, we have a valuable opportunity to support road safety and roads policing across the UK with enhanced national coordination, consistency, collaboration and communication across policing, government and the wider road safety community."
Impact on crime prevention
Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones said: "Illegal number plates are not a victimless offence. They are used by criminals to avoid detection, move illegal goods and stay one step ahead of law enforcement. We are determined to give police every advantage in the fight against serious and organised crime, while making our roads safer for everyone."
The crackdown includes a trial of new technology and a focus on intelligence-led operations. The NRPCC will enhance national coordination and collaboration across policing, government, and the wider road safety community, with the goal of reducing criminality and improving road safety across England.
