New Crime-busting camera scheme

[amoffat]

A nationwide network of cameras that can read car number plates, and the introduction of new fixed penalty notices for motoring offences, are being backed by police and the Home Office.

They believe that the cameras, which read number plates and check them against a national police database, should be rolled out across the country to help in the fight against crime.

New fixed penalty notices – such as driving without a valid MoT, driving without tax or failing to register a vehicle – may be introduced to help pay for the cost of the cameras.

The Home Office says the cameras used in nine pilot schemes have led to impressive arrest and prosecution levels, and hopes that using them nationwide will help meet its target of cutting car crime by 30% by 2004.

Currently car crime accounts for a fifth of all crime in Britain, with an incident taking place every 12 seconds on average.

Although the new crime-fighting measures have already won broad support, the final go-ahead will only be announced once the pilot projects have finished in March.

This sounds good, but whats are chances of the system being used to prosecute ****** speeding too /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Moresauce]

Yep heard one the bristol policeman talking about thsi on the radio today. Basically it can't be used to catch you for speeding unless they also have a speed camera present so makes no difference to the current regs.

It is for catching those without tax, MOT, cars used in crimes, cars used by know criminal...it should also help them target the right people and maybe if the unthinkable happens to one of our cars this sytem may help catch the b*gg*r! It stopped a car jacked car just 3 minutes after it had been taken /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[gtdog]

The cameras are allready in place in many areas.
The M27, M3, and M40 that I know of, only as yet the link to the national database is not yet active.
Do you recal the pilot scheme for the tax disk cameras that could read your tax disc on motorways?
The little blue camera boxes in groups of three on many motorway bridges ring any bells?
Oh big brother has been watching for a while now... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Moresauce]

The small blue boxes on motorway bridges one for each lane are for one of the traffic servies they just motnitor flow not cars, numberplates or speed. They send a signal when objects past them below set limits, no actual recognition on the object

 

[gtdog]

As stands at the moment, they are linked to the AA and RAC traffic monitoring systems.
The capability is there and exists for these units to be used for the purposes mentioned above.
They are owned by the highways agency, and are to be used to raise revenue.

 

[gtdog]

In that case I shall go spank the guy that lied to me!
He must be laughing his head off!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush2.gif