Guidance

How DVSA uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR)

Updated 4 June 2020

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

1. Why DVSA uses ANPR

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology at a local, regional and national level to help detect, deter and disrupt by targeting those operators who break the law.

2. How DVSA uses ANPR

ANPR cameras read the number plate of passing vehicles and check them in a database of vehicles of interest to DVSA, eg goods vehicles, buses and coaches.

DVSA uses ANPR to help target which vehicles to stop and check. This helps to detect offences including:

• unlicensed operators
• untested vehicles

At some locations ANPR cameras are linked with weigh-in-motion equipment. This lets DVSA identify overloaded vehicles.

Using ANPR means that DVSA:

• can focus on offending vehicles
• can reduce the burden on compliant operators

3. Access to stored data

DVSA has rules that make sure ANPR data can only be accessed for a legal reason to help with an investigation. DVSA staff only have access to ANPR data if it’s relevant to their job.

Authorised DVSA staff have access to ANPR data up to 90 days old.

For data older than 90 days, access can only be granted:

• if it’s a serious investigation
• with permission from the information asset owner

ANPR data is deleted after 12 months from the date it was collected unless previously stored as evidence.

4. Why access is sometimes needed

Searches of ANPR data can confirm whether vehicles related to an investigation have been seen. This can speed up investigations that DVSA carry out, eg in cases of tachograph fraud.

5. Camera locations

DVSA uses ANPR cameras at fixed locations on the strategic road network where they help to detect, deter and disrupt non-compliance.

DVSA doesn’t share details of these locations as this could make ANPR less effective.

DVSA has to do an assessment to prove there’s a clear need before installing new ANPR cameras.

DVSA does a privacy impact assessment as part of the process. People with a reasonable interest in the proposal are consulted, unless it would go against the purpose of installing the cameras, ie to detect, deter and disrupt crime.

DVSA regularly reviews the locations of ANPR cameras to make sure their continued use is justified. All reviews consider the impacts on privacy.

6. Code of practice and national standards

The Surveillance Camera Code of Practice defines guiding principles for the use of ANPR which apply to DVSA.

National ANPR Standards for Policing and Law Enforcement (NASPLE) also provide the framework for the operation of ANPR by the police and other law enforcement agencies.

7. More information

The ANPR data controller is DVSA on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport.

Any requests for information or complaints should be emailed to dataprotection@dvsa.gov.uk

or by post to:

DVSA Information Access Team
Berkeley House
Croydon Street
Bristol
BS5 0DA