Not seen this type of camera before...

[lunchbox]

No picture unfortunately, but it was a Plod 4x4 with 2 wheels on the kerb (didn't look particularly legal the way it was parked). It looked just like someone had been pulled over because there was a copper leaning against the 4x4 and another sitting inside it. I was half-expecting to see some long faced chap standing there getting a earful from Plod, but as I got closer I saw there was no one else.

But there was a little tiny black tripod with a little round camera on the top. Probably not more than a foot high in total. It was just infront of the 4x4's nearside wheel which camouflaged it extremely well. The coppers standing around must have been 'operating' it.

I wasn't speeding at the time, it's a road I know that plod often sit on in the big ol' mobile camera van. This was new though.

What the hell was it?

[shuvitupya]

ANPR

Checks insurance, owner, and tax etc.

[andy_quantum]

There was one similar to that near here last week, parked in a bus stop. They moved to another site quite quickly when the double decker I was on stopped in the line of the camera for a few minutes to let Doris off and then almost wiped them out getting back onto the road

[mybrainhurts]

This is an ANPR camera operated by the DVLA...

Near Manchester airport, parked illegally...

[streaky]

Or Speedmaster/Autovision DS2, DS3 or TSS. Were there strips in/on the road near the van? - Streaky