FOI release

BSCC/FOI/03/21/OC: Information on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras

Updated 27 August 2021

Freedom of Information Request regarding various information on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

Published 27 July 2021

Letter by email

Dear [redacted]

I write in response to an email received from you to our office on 03/07/2021 in which you asked for information on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

Your request has been handled as a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I am an independent regulator appointed by the Home Secretary and supported by Home Office staff. I do not hold the information which you have requested, however you may wish to contact the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) or alternatively the ACRO Criminal Records Office. Contact details for both can be found via the following links;

NPCC central office

ACRO Criminal Records Office - Contact

Q1. How many Automatic Number Plate Recognition (APNR) cameras are installed in England and Wales as of 07th June 2021?

I am an independent regulator appointed by the Home Secretary and supported by Home Office staff. I do not hold the information which you have requested, however you may wish to contact the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) or alternatively the ACRO Criminal Records Office. Contact details for both can be found via the following links;

NPCC central office

ACRO Criminal Records Office - Contact

Q2. How many ANPR cameras were installed prior to March 26th 2020?

See answer to Q1.

Q3. How many ANPR cameras have been installed between 26th May 2020 and 07th June 2021?

See answer to Q1.

Q4. What are the reasons the installation of ANPR cameras as the reason given “crime prevention” does NOT justify the recent massive proliferation of ANPR cameras I have observed while driving. “Crime prevention” is too vague, too all encompassing, too generalised.

See answer to Q1.

Q5. Is there a plan for ANPR cameras to be used to enforce local lockdowns to combat “covid-19” or other future “pandemics”?

See answer to Q1.

If you are dissatisfied with this response, you may request an independent internal review of our handling of your request by submitting a complaint within two months to the email address below, quoting reference BSCC/FOI/03/21/OC. If you ask for an internal review, it would be helpful if you could say why you are dissatisfied with the response.

[redacted]

As part of any internal review my handling of your information request will be reassessed by staff that were not involved in providing you with this response. If you remain dissatisfied after this internal review, you have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act.