Driving Crime Down

Résumé du livre

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is an established technology that allows vehicle registration plates to be recorded using pattern recognition software, in conjunction with sophisticated camera equipment. In June 2003, 23 police forces across England and Wales had established dedicated teams of intercept officers using ANPR systems to detect and target vehicle documentation offences and crime in general. Under the Laser 2 pilot scheme, the ANPR teams were part-funded through cost recovery based on receipts from fixed penalty notices issued. This report sets out the findings of an evaluation study of the Laser 2 pilot carried out during the period June 2003 to June 2004, commissioned by the Home Office Police Standards Unit, in association with the Association of Chief Police Officers. The ANPR intercept teams were found to be an extremely effective policing tool, in terms of average arrest rates, policing visibility and the effective redeployment of existing resources, as well as in helping to deliver Government targets for tackling volume crime, counter-terrorism work and intelligence gathering. The report concludes that there is a strong case for the national rollout of the Laser 2 pilot, and a number of areas are identified where cost recovery operations could be improved, particularly regarding data accuracy.