104/99
25 June 1999
HI-TECH CAMERA SCHEME TO CATCH VEHICLE TAX CHEATS GETS GO-AHEAD
Tax-cheating motorists will find few places to hide from a new, hi-tech scheme to tackle vehicle tax evasion that was given the green light by Chief Secretary Alan Milburn today.
Funding of 400,000 Pounds, announced today, will help the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) pilot a network of mobile cameras that can detect untaxed vehicles anywhere at any time.
Commenting, Mr Milburn said:
"The Government is committed to both investing in and modernising the public services. This scheme is an excellent example of what we are seeking to achieve. We take the evasion of road tax seriously, and are determined to make the best use of new technology to tackle the problem."
The camera systems, known as Automatic Number Plate Readers (or ANPRs), are computers which gather pictures of moving vehicles from a video camera. Special software locates the number plate in each picture, and then reads the registration mark. Where the registration mark matches a computer 'hit list' of unlicensed vehicles, the picture is stored for later use in prosecuting offenders.
ANPR systems are extremely versatile, and can be set up to operate on any type of road in a matter of minutes. Number plates can be read in daylight or in darkness, as well as in poor weather. Plates can also be read at while vehicles move at speed.
The investment comes from the Government's 2.5 billion Pounds Capital Modernisation Fund, designed to encourage high quality capital projects intended to improve public services.
Commenting on the Treasury backing for the DVLA camera scheme, Lord Whitty, Minister with responsibility for Driver and Vehicle Agencies said:
"I am delighted that money has been made available to take this major initiative forward. I am convinced that this will be a most effective use of new technology and will have a major impact in reducing road tax evasion, by providing us with another weapon in our armoury."
Notes to Editors
1. It is estimated that nationally, the loss of revenue through evasion of road tax during 1998/99 was 195 million Pounds.
2. A pilot scheme is to be run in September to establish the use in court of the digitised video evidence from ANPR systems. The additional funding will allow DVLA to set up a national scheme using mobile ANPR systems from April next year.
3. ANPR systems can be used independently as well as in conjunction with the national programme of road tax campaigns run jointly by DVLA and the police. Such campaigns will prove even more effective, with ANPR systems catching evaders on the move, and wheelclamping teams targeting parked untaxed vehicles.