GMP upgrade ANPR cameras and put up new cameras in hotspot areas across Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Police have completed a two-year programme to replace roadside Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras with new ones across the Force.

The programme has not only seen cameras being upgraded, but new additional sites for cameras to be installed in areas where criminals travel and use vehicles to commit crime.

One of the first new cameras to go up in early July led to the following within the first days of its installation.

On Monday 3 July 2023, officers searching for a suicidal missing man who was in his car used ANPR to locate the man and provide the appropriate support for him.

A week later a vehicle which had been reported stolen triggered the new ANPR camera with officers from the Transport Unit springing into action.

After a short pursuit the vehicle was brought to a safe stop and recovered by officers, with the suspect – a 21-year-old man – was arrested for theft of a motor vehicle.

The following day the Roads Policing Unit (RPU) managed to stop a vehicle and arrest a man who was wanted for domestic violence and stalking offences after his vehicle passed the new camera. The same camera also led RPU officers to the arrest of a man for his third drug driving offence this year.

 

How does it ANPR work?

GMP use ANPR technology to help detect, deter and disrupt criminal activity at a local, Force, regional and national level. This includes travelling criminals (those using the road network to avoid being caught), organised crime groups and terrorists.

As a vehicle passes an ANPR camera, its registration number is read and instantly checked against database records of vehicles of interest. Police officers can stop a vehicle, speak to the occupants and, where necessary, make arrests.

ANPR has proved to be important in the detection of many offences, including locating, for example, people wanted for arrest or missing, witnesses, stolen vehicles, uninsured vehicles and uncovering cases of major crime.

 

Report and support information

Greater Manchester Police can be contacted via www.gmp.police.uk or 101.

For incidents on the bus and tram networks, you can report incidents quickly and discreetly to a live GMP call handler, from your smartphone, using the LiveChat service.

In an emergency, always dial 999. Information about crime also be shared anonymously via the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.