Overview
- Transport minister Lilian Greenwood said the DVLA is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council on number plate crime, with a policy announcement expected within weeks alongside the Road Safety Strategy.
- The APPG for Transport Safety reports that up to one in 15 vehicles may use modified or non‑compliant plates that defeat ANPR, with evasion sometimes achieved using simple tactics such as cellophane, leaves or marker pens.
- The report urges a wholesale overhaul of the system, including standardised plates with security features, a sharp reduction from the 34,455 registered sellers through fees and audits, and a ban on 3D and 4D styles.
- Industry groups back tougher rules, with the BNMA supporting the recommendations, the RAC calling for higher security standards, and the Motor Insurers’ Bureau urging a partnership approach to implementation.
- Using cloned or ‘ghost’ plates is already illegal and enforcement rests with police forces, while experts cite ANPR’s limits—about 97% recognition across tens of millions of daily reads—and industry sources report plate theft rising since 2021.