Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Survey

As part of a national survey, Thames Valley Police is looking for your feedback around the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) across our policing area. The survey is anonymous and only takes a few minutes of your time to complete.

Link to ANPR survey

ANPR technology is used by police forces across the UK to help detect, deter and disrupt criminality, including organised crime groups and terrorists. It can also be used, as in the video below, to locate missing persons.

As a vehicle passes an ANPR camera, its registration number is read and instantly checked against database records of vehicles of interest. Police officers can intercept and stop a vehicle, speak to the occupants and, where necessary, make arrests. Searches of ANPR data can identify vehicles associated with crime and terrorism and can dramatically speed up investigations.

Back in September, we reported that Chiltern had become the first Thames Valley force area to receive in-car ANPR’s. Previously, these had been normally only in traffic cars and armed response vehicles.

Precise locations of ANPR devices are deliberately not publicised in order not to undermine their effectiveness. For some this raises the spectre of Big Brother, but the use of data is governed by strict codes of practice. Clear rules exist to control access to ANPR data and to govern conditions of storage.

More information about Thames Valley Police’s use of ANPR.

West Midlands Police have produced a short video which demonstrates how they used ANPR to locate a missing person.

Link to ANPR survey

“Accessing Community Board Funding for the Safety of our Community” – news post, Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020