Latest news with #SarahCoombes
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Ministers urged to take action over ghost number plates
Ministers are being pressured to take urgent action over illegal so-called ghost number plates. The plates have a reflective coating, which prevents them from being identified by police cameras. The British Number Plate Manufacturers Association (BNMA), which represents companies producing the vast majority of plates in the UK, wants tougher regulation of the sector. In a letter to the Government, it claimed that a number of suppliers that have not registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are not following its requirements. It warned that this has led to a rise in ghost plates and cloning, which is when a plate displays the same registration as another vehicle. BNMA chairman Michael Flanagan said: 'Far from being the tightly regulated industry it should be, number plates are increasingly being sold by unscrupulous below-the-radar suppliers using non-compliant, untraceable materials. 'They rarely ask for the documentation that the DVLA require. 'This is a criminal offence and enables serious criminals and terrorists to move around the roads undetected. 'Motorists deserve to know they are buying a legal, compliant number plate from a legitimate supplier. 'Now is the time for Government to tighten the regulations.' Sarah Coombes, Labour MP for West Bromwich, wants the punishment for being caught with a ghost plate to be raised from a £100 fine and no penalty points to a fine of at least £1,000 and six penalty points. She said: 'Dodgy number plates are no longer a fringe issue. They're everywhere and they're undermining the rule of law on our roads. 'I know this Government is committed to making our roads safer for everyone. Tightening the law on number plates will be a huge step in the right direction.' Ms Coombes is hosting a roundtable event in Parliament on Tuesday with industry experts, the DVLA and police forces to discuss ghost plates. A DVLA spokesperson said: 'DVLA is committed to ensuring all number plates are displayed correctly and legally. We work with the police and Trading Standards to take action against suppliers who do not comply with the law. 'A legitimate supplier will always ask to see ID and entitlement documents before selling a number plate. Where this doesn't happen, members of the public can report this directly to their local Trading Standards.'
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
More than 130 official suppliers willing to sell cloned number plates, experts find
More than 130 official suppliers of vehicle number plates are willing to sell cloned versions that could thwart police and avoid congestion charges, an investigation by expert government advisers has claimed. The alleged abuse of the system is described by the academics as a risk to law enforcement, road safety and the country's critical national infrastructure. The expert group, which includes Dr Fraser Sampson, who was the government's biometric surveillance camera commissioner until 2023, warns that the country is dependent on the 'humble number plate', but 'anyone can become a DVLA-registered number plate scheme (RNPS) member on payment of £40.' They write: 'There is no vetting, no trading history requirement and no monitoring of members' practices. 'To date we have found over 135 DVLA-registered RNPS members nationally who were prepared to make cloned plates … and there will undoubtedly be more. One West Midlands criminal had recently supplied over 7,000 plates to the criminal underworld.' The findings from members of the Vehicle Identification Group, a centre of excellence at Cranfield University dedicated to advancing the science of automatic number plate recognition, are included in a submission to the Labour MP Sarah Coombes. The West Bromwich MP is fronting a private member's bill that it is said would see offending drivers hit with a £1,000 fine, vehicle seizure or licence disqualification. Currently, the most common sanction for drivers with cloned plates is a £100 fine. The experts claim that legal and legible vehicle registration plates are fundamental to a range of priorities including tax collection, emission targets, the suppression of organised crime and even the safe transport of nuclear materials. 'Given their importance, it would be reasonable to expect number plates to be governed by a comprehensive, consistent and coherent framework regulating their manufacture and supply,' they write. 'Unfortunately, despite many public reports and an abundance of evidence as to its shortcomings, the framework for vehicle registration plates is wholly inadequate. 'It therefore remains our firm view that the current arrangements for the supply and regulation of number plates represent a significant enduring risk, not only to policing and road safety, but also to the critical infrastructure of the country.' Dr Michael Rhead, who has advised government bodies on the effective use of surveillance technologies in policing, approached registered suppliers and found more than 135 that were willing to provide plates without proof of car ownership, it is said. Sampson said he had already warned the government when he resigned as biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner that it was 'staggeringly simple to thwart' the automated number plate recognition (ANPR) systems on which the country's safety relied. Suppliers of plates are required by law to ask for both identification and proof of entitlement to a registration number at the time purchase, but Sampson said he had publicly and privately argued that there was insufficient enforcement. Sampson said: 'I'm astonished that something so serious and well evidenced still hasn't been actioned. Must we always wait for calamity to drive change?' Other members of the expert group include Dr Rob Gurney, who has advised the DVLA and border force, and William Martin, a visiting professor of physics at the University of Hertfordshire who has helped government bodies. Coombes said: 'A hundred pounds is a pitiful deterrent if you're caught with an illegal number plate like a ghost plate. 'Given that everything from low-level antisocial behaviour to organised crime is being fuelled by these number plates, using a ghost plate is not the victimless crime it's made out to be. 'The law is outdated and we need the punishment to increase to at least £1,000 and six penalty points at the earliest opportunity to make our roads safe again.' A DVLA spokesperson said: 'DVLA is committed to ensuring all number plates are displayed correctly and legally. We work with the police and trading standards to take action against suppliers who do not comply with the law. 'A legitimate supplier will always ask to see ID and entitlement documents before selling a number plate. Where this doesn't happen, members of the public can report this directly to their local trading standards.'
Scottish Sun
16-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Crooks using ‘ghost plates' to dodge speed cameras face government crackdown
CROOKS using illegal 'ghost plates' to dodge speed cameras and escape police could finally face tougher punishments, ministers have said. The sham plates, which make cars invisible to number plate recognition systems, are being used by drug dealers, fraudsters and boy racers to cause carnage on our roads. 1 London, England, UK, Europe – August 21, 2016: Surveillancee Camera Credit: Getty Labour MP Sarah Coombes told the Commons she was warned by a senior cop that the problem is now 'frightening' - with ghost plates spotted 'on every street, in every town'. She blasted the lack of action and called for £1,000 fines and six penalty points to stop the lawless 'number plate Wild West'. The current punishment is just a £100 slap on the wrist - less than a speeding ticket. Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood admitted 'more needs to be done' and said tougher penalties will be looked at in a new road safety crackdown. Read More Motors News DRIVEN AWAY Millions of cars could vanish from roads as 12.7m Brits make 'conscious choice' She also said the DVLA is working with police chiefs and the Home Office to target rogue sellers and tighten enforcement. Campaigners warn kits to make ghost plates can be bought online for as little as £40 – with sites openly selling the gear. Sellers often get around the rules by branding them 'show plates', while Instagram and TikTok are flooded with videos promoting them to wannabe racers.
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Crooks using ‘ghost plates' to dodge speed cameras face government crackdown
CROOKS using illegal 'ghost plates' to dodge speed cameras and escape police could finally face tougher punishments, ministers have said. The sham plates, which make cars invisible to number plate recognition systems, are being used by drug dealers, fraudsters and boy racers to cause carnage on our roads. 1 London, England, UK, Europe – August 21, 2016: Surveillancee Camera Credit: Getty Labour MP Sarah Coombes told the Commons she was warned by a senior cop that the problem is now 'frightening' - with ghost plates spotted 'on every street, in every town'. She blasted the lack of action and called for £1,000 fines and six penalty points to stop the lawless 'number plate Wild West'. The current punishment is just a £100 slap on the wrist - less than a speeding ticket. Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood admitted 'more needs to be done' and said tougher penalties will be looked at in a new road safety crackdown. Read More Motors News She also said the DVLA is working with police chiefs and the Home Office to target rogue sellers and tighten enforcement. Campaigners warn kits to make ghost plates can be bought online for as little as £40 – with sites openly selling the gear. Sellers often get around the rules by branding them 'show plates', while Instagram and TikTok are flooded with videos promoting them to wannabe racers.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- The Sun
Crooks using ‘ghost plates' to dodge speed cameras face government crackdown
CROOKS using illegal 'ghost plates' to dodge speed cameras and escape police could finally face tougher punishments, ministers have said. The sham plates, which make cars invisible to number plate recognition systems, are being used by drug dealers, fraudsters and boy racers to cause carnage on our roads. 1 Labour MP Sarah Coombes told the Commons she was warned by a senior cop that the problem is now 'frightening' - with ghost plates spotted 'on every street, in every town'. She blasted the lack of action and called for £1,000 fines and six penalty points to stop the lawless 'number plate Wild West'. The current punishment is just a £100 slap on the wrist - less than a speeding ticket. Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood admitted 'more needs to be done' and said tougher penalties will be looked at in a new road safety crackdown. She also said the DVLA is working with police chiefs and the Home Office to target rogue sellers and tighten enforcement. Campaigners warn kits to make ghost plates can be bought online for as little as £40 – with sites openly selling the gear. Sellers often get around the rules by branding them 'show plates', while Instagram and TikTok are flooded with videos promoting them to wannabe racers.
