North police use scanners to nick 10,000 cars

Nov 1 2009 by Phil Doherty, Sunday Sun

NEARLY 10,000 vehicles have been seized in the region since police cars were equipped with a computer system that scans number plates.

Leading the way are Durham Police, who have seized 5,067 vehicles since 2005 using the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system.

The device uses cameras to scan vehicle registration numbers. They are then fed through a computer to databases held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and other agencies.

The system tells police officer which vehicles are uninsured, untaxed or stolen, or believed to be linked to people involved in crime.

Of the vehicles that were seized, 60% were returned to their owners after they produced the correct updated documents and the storage fee. The rest were crushed when the owners failed to collect them.

A Durham Police spokesman said: “ANPR is an effective tool against travelling criminals who use the road network.

“But other drivers who flout the law and drive unlicensed and uninsured vehicles should be aware that their vehicles can be tracked, seized and crushed.” In North Yorkshire 2,000 cars, lorries and other vehicles have been confiscated since 2005.

The system also helped to recover £646,361 worth of stolen property, cash and drugs there.

Sergeant Ian Butler, head of North Yorkshire’s ANPR team, said: “It’s shocking that people will still try and get away with driving uninsured. This is an unfair burden on law-abiding motorists and it will not be tolerated.

“The message is clear: don’t drive without insurance, it could work out very expensive.

“If you were involved in a collision, it could cost you thousands. It is simply not worth the risk.”