UK number plate cameras go national
Discussion
www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/24/anpr_national_system/
article said:another infallible camera system from the people who brought you 'safety' cameras
The national rollout of the UK police's ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system is kicking off, with the goal of deploying a network of over 2,000 cameras on motorways, major roads and city centres. The system is claimed to be able to run database checks on 3,600 plates per hour, on vehicles travelling at speeds of up to 100 mph....
I sense a heated debate about to crop up about the merits of this system.
As it is, I am strongly in favour of ANPR. The ability to pick-up uninsured, unlicenced and un-MOT'd vehicles is a great one, from the point of view of someone who pays their VED, has a valid MOT, is insured etc etc etc. However, this is working on the basis that there is a "Catch Squad" to apprehend people passing who are not doing what they ought. To have a system without these "Catch Squads" is surely only as good as the information in the database as to what is registered to who? And, IIRC, this information has proved to be about 15% inaccurate - non? "So, we know that vehicle ABC123D is not insured, and it is registered to Mr FcukU of 100 NoSuch Place. Let's get out there lads and nobble him!"
Which means that this looking more and more like a big-brother-watching-you type system. Which I don't like ...
And how long before some bright c**t spots that ANPR cameras on a network can be quite easily made to work like a giant SPECS system, across the whole country?
Shame. When I first read this article I thought it was a good idea. Now I am not so sure.
Oli.
As it is, I am strongly in favour of ANPR. The ability to pick-up uninsured, unlicenced and un-MOT'd vehicles is a great one, from the point of view of someone who pays their VED, has a valid MOT, is insured etc etc etc. However, this is working on the basis that there is a "Catch Squad" to apprehend people passing who are not doing what they ought. To have a system without these "Catch Squads" is surely only as good as the information in the database as to what is registered to who? And, IIRC, this information has proved to be about 15% inaccurate - non? "So, we know that vehicle ABC123D is not insured, and it is registered to Mr FcukU of 100 NoSuch Place. Let's get out there lads and nobble him!"
Which means that this looking more and more like a big-brother-watching-you type system. Which I don't like ...
And how long before some bright c**t spots that ANPR cameras on a network can be quite easily made to work like a giant SPECS system, across the whole country?
Shame. When I first read this article I thought it was a good idea. Now I am not so sure.
Oli.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff