Policing.uk
ANPR
- General
Automatic Number Plate Recognition is a technology used by the police to automatically read vehicle number plates and check them against the Police National Computer and other databases. ANPR cameras are fixed at roadsides, on vehicles, and at strategic locations. Detections of vehicles of interest generate an alert to officers who may intercept the vehicle.
In practice
ANPR data is retained for 12 months on the National ANPR Service (NAS) and is available to police forces for intelligence and evidential purposes. Its use is governed by the National ANPR Standards for Policing and Justice, the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, and data protection law. ANPR can be used to build a picture of a vehicle's movements over time.
Last updated 24 September 2026