A national network of cameras and computers automatically logging car number plates will be in place within months, the BBC has learned.
Thousands of Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras are already operating on Britain’s roads.
Police forces across England, Wales and Scotland will soon be able to share the information on one central computer.
Officers say it is a useful tool in fighting crime, but critics say the network is secretive and unregulated.
Kent’s Chief Constable, Michael Fuller, commented: “We’ve seen an increase of some 40% of arrests since we’ve been using this technology.
“I’m very confident that we’re using it properly and responsibly, and that innocent people have nothing to fear from the way we use it.”
A number of local councils are signing up their Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems to the ANPR network. As long as the cameras are technically good enough, they can be adapted to take the software.
In towns such as Bradford, Portsmouth and Luton that means greater coverage for the police and more journeys captured and recorded.
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