Police technology proves big hit (From Worcester News)

Police technology proves big hit

8:10am Sunday 6th July 2008 in

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NEW technology is denying criminals the use of Herefordshire’s roads.

Police in the county are making use of high-tech equipment fitted in their cars to stop criminals using the roads.

Automatic Number Plate Reading (ANPR) equipment is now in the division’s patrol cars, with a new dedicated Operational Support Team set up to operate them.

ANPR works by using special cameras installed in police vehicles to scan the number plates of passing cars, vans and trucks and then checking the registration against more than 100 databases to identify vehicles that are untaxed, have no insurance, have been stolen or are known to be used by drink-drivers, drug dealers or criminals.

Superintendent Kevin Purcell of Herefordshire Division said: “ANPR technology has proved extremely effective across the force and we have always been keen to make use of it whenever possible to deny criminals the use of the road.”

A South Worcestershire Division spokesman said ANPR was used tactically across Malvern, Worcester City and Wychavon, but - for policing reasons - did not say how and when the system is transported and operational.