Staffordshire Police

Many criminals rely on vehicles to help them commit crime. ANPR is a policing tool designed to make it far more difficult for them to do this without being detected.

Cameras linked to a computer read the vehicle's number plate as it passes. This reading is then automatically checked against the ANPR database, which holds information from a variety of databases.

If the number plate is matched, for instance against a report of a stolen car, ANPR equipment sounds an alert so officers can stop the vehicle for further enquiries. The ANPR database is updated twice a day to ensure information is as current as possible.

How does Staffordshire Police use ANPR?

Specially trained staff and officers operate the ANPR equipment, which is installed in some police cars, CCTV enabled cameras and laptops. Infrared cameras mean the system can operate at night as well as during the day.

Why does Staffordshire Police use it?

Thanks to ANPR, criminals don't have the freedom of the roads without fearing detection. This fast growing technology has driven closer liaison between neighbouring forces, which by sharing their ANPR intelligence, helps reduce cross-border crime.

There are many benefits to all the law-abiding citizens of Staffordshire. ANPR:

• reduces crime
• raises the number of offenders brought to justice
• gives officers better information to work with.

As well as achieving all this, ANPR also has a number of other benefits for everyone by:

• improving road safety
• deterring terrorism
• giving a greater police presence
• promoting public reassurance
• increasing the percentage of stop/searches that lead to an arrest.