Over 1,000 vehicles seized in a month with the help of ANPR

ANPR and mobile app play key roles in new Operation Wolverine record.

There were a record number of vehicles seized on the roads of Greater Manchester in July 2023.

The monthly figure broke the 1,000 mark, with just under half of those being through Operation Wolverine.

The new Greater Manchester Police record comes as the force continues its investment into the Roads Policing Unit, which is now fully operational.

Operation Wolverine, a constant proactive operation, is helping GMP to make Greater Manchester safer and also reduce the number of serious and fatal collisions on our motorways and roads.

Over 6,300 vehicles have been seized in 2023 so far, again with just under half being through Operation Wolverine, which gives officers the power to seize uninsured vehicles and those driven without the correct licence.

A specialist team of traffic officers have worked in a unit which was set up in 2006 to specifically tackle this type of crime.

Alongside completing a two-year programme to upgrade roadside Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and replace them with new ones across the force, ANPR cameras have been installed at additional sites in areas where criminals travel and use vehicles to commit crime.

ANPR is a key tool in these successes, helping to detect, deter and disrupt criminal activity.

The Cleartone mobile ANPR app for officers’ mobile devices has also been a significant factor in the substantial increase in vehicle seizures in recent months.

GMP’s Specialist Operations Branch have had access to the technology since May. Since then, vehicle seizures under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act have improved markedly, seeing numbers jump by nearly 30% and 50% respectively in terms of seizures and Operation Wolverine in its first month.

Specialist Operations Branch Inspector Jon Middleton said: “A contributory factor to the significant number of vehicles seized is the launch of the ANPR application for officers’ mobile devices that allows them to receive alerts from nearby ANPR cameras.

“This simple but effective technology is easily accessible whilst out on patrol and includes notifications for uninsured vehicles who can have catastrophic and serious consequences for most people who use our motorways and road network legally.

“We are committed to ensuring we keep our roads safe, and if we can work smarter and in a more effective way, whilst utilising technology, then it can only bring benefits to both the force and the public.”

The app is being trialled with districts and Specials, who are also benefitting from its ease of use to identify illegal drivers and uninsured vehicles.

Whilst funding from seized vehicles that are auctioned if they are not recovered by the owner goes towards community projects.

For more information of Operation Wolverine and how GMP use ANPR, please click the links below:

Seized vehicles | Greater Manchester Police (gmp.police.uk)

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) | Greater Manchester Police (gmp.police.uk)