ANPR

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is a high specification technology designed to meet the aims and objectives of today’s modern policing.

ANPR can help detect, deter and disrupt criminality, including terrorism. It can be used locally and nationally, as well as across force and regional borders.

Suffolk Police received its own ANPR system from the Home Office in 2002 as part of a nationwide program of development and since that time its capability and structure has been improved significantly.

Our strategic intent is to use ANPR to ‘Target criminals through their use of the road’ and we intend on achieving this by exploiting the full potential of ANPR within the Police Service of England and Wales and acting in partnership with others where appropriate.

Our ANPR strategy will help to meet our primary aims and objectives to:

• Reduce crime and terrorism
• Increase the number of offences brought to justice, including serious and major crime
• Reduce road traffic casualties
• Increase public perceptions of safety and confidence in the police
• Make more efficient use of police resources.

ANPR is the responsibility of the Protective Services Department within our organisation and is managed by the Intelligence Directorate. A key element is the ANPR Intercept Team.

A unit comprising of seven dedicated officers who are deployed tactically by intelligence led policing. They have significantly contributed towards achieving the aims and objectives, arresting 159 people and seizing 335 vehicles within the last ten months.