Update to the Recently Delivered ANPR Development Project

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology is used by Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police to help detect, deter and disrupt criminality. It can also be a powerful tool in helping us tackle travelling criminals. The deployment of ANPR cameras assists the police in protecting communities from harm and allows law abiding drivers to continue with their daily lives unhindered, whilst simultaneously drawing police attention to those using the roads for criminal endeavours.

Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Policing have recently delivered an ANPR development project which has seen ANPR technology installed at key strategic locations. ANPR is now installed at 129 sites across the four counties. In line with national policy, the specific locations of cameras are not disclosed as to do so would be of potential benefit to criminals using the roads and in turn hinder the effectiveness of the policing purpose of ANPR.

Camera sites are determined following an in depth assessment to ensure that locations are and continue to be necessary, proportionate and in line with a pressing social need. We act in line with guidance from the Information Compliance Office to consider privacy issues when seeking to install cameras and will consult with individuals and organisations with a reasonable interest in the proposal unless that would be contrary to the purpose of the development, namely to detect, deter and disrupt criminality. The in depth assessment is the essential source of information when reviewing ANPR deployments and data collection is ceased from sites which are no longer deemed to have policing challenges.

We have clear rules to control access to ANPR data which only allows permitted staff to conduct searches of the information gathered to confirm whether vehicles associated with a known criminal have been in the area at the time of a crime to support the investigation process.

Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police are committed to ensuring the deployment of ANPR technology across the alliance area is necessary and proportionate. We regularly review the location of ANPR cameras to make sure that its continuing use remains justified. All reviews include consideration of the impact on privacy.

Additional information can be found on the Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police internet pages