Discussion
How the hell do I get the database updated ? One of our vans which we've had for 18 months and was an ex demonstrator so a 51 reg gets stopped atleast once a week at one of three very heavily used ANPR sites, every time its the same mind numbing questions of is this your van etc etc etc and a quick check of the tax disc before an ok off you go. However last week I was in it when it was stopped so I asked why it showed up for a stop and was told that it was due to the fact the ANPR database showwed it as unregistered, this is complete bollox as I've got a log book, have taxed it twice since we got it, have been fined by TFL once when it got congestion charged without paying, and even get reminders off of DVLA when the tax is due. I wouldn't mind if it was only a few months old but this surely means the database they are using is atleast 18 months out of date and so effectively no bloody good whatsoever. As you can tell it's really pissing me off and I'm even considering fining the police for wasting Mel's time, I'm bloody sure they would if the boot was on the other foot 
IF as they say the pull because the vehicle is unregistered then write to DVLA and tell them what is happening and why. Insist that they update their records. It's their records that APNR rely upon.
or is there a cloned vehicle with your number on it floating about somewhere leading to a bit of info on the computor?
DVD
>> Edited by Dwight VanDriver on Tuesday 10th February 15:38
or is there a cloned vehicle with your number on it floating about somewhere leading to a bit of info on the computor?
DVD
>> Edited by Dwight VanDriver on Tuesday 10th February 15:38
Rumour has it that ANPR is still very unreliable.. often failing to ID cars correctly, unable to do lookups immediately, and is not connected to the insurance database. What it is connected to is out of date and easy to defraud. In short, ANPR is NOT the miracle you are led to beleive. Shame, 'cos it does seem a good way to catch a lot of bad guys. Except those who clone good-guys reg plates. But what it can do is annoy lots of genuine folk....
ANPR is being used my many agenises and there are a huge variety of databases that can be placed on the system.
It appears that one of the databases is either out of date or not being updated when you are stopped.
If/When you next get stopped ask which database has ‘flagged’ you up. Express your concerns over the apparent misuse under the data protection act. This should just jolt them into helping you out more.
Once you know which database is flagging you, you can contact the relevant agency.
hertsbiker said:
Rumour has it that ANPR is still very unreliable.. often failing to ID cars correctly, unable to do lookups immediately, and is not connected to the insurance database. What it is connected to is out of date and easy to defraud. In short, ANPR is NOT the miracle you are led to beleive. Shame, 'cos it does seem a good way to catch a lot of bad guys. Except those who clone good-guys reg plates. But what it can do is annoy lots of genuine folk....
Rumour? Nah, fact! Its massively unreliable and the quality of the data is diabolical! As you mention, ANPR isnt a miracle that "some" in the road safety camp believe. Its good for what it was designed for, but for the other tasks its next to useless......
The data sources are from several different areas, but principally its the DVLA system for the raw data. Everyone jumped up and down about this new £80 fine for not renewing your RFL - well, I wouldnt be worried about it. The system as a whole just doesnt cope with the accuracy of the database at the moment and to be honest the chances that you will be picked up three weeks after your RFL has run out is pretty limited!
Oh, and the data on the ANRP was (not sure if it is today) STATIC. That means a computer system goes out in the van / car which has the data there and then - its not a dynamic lookup on live data which means you could quite legitimately go out and get an MOT and RFL on the day you need to do it and still get picked out by ANRP as a non-payer!!! Its crap for this - like I said, contrary to what "some" people say, it was never designed for this.
What ANPR is for is the tracking of known criminals and their cars. Its a spin out of the Iron Fist (or was it claw?) project that was initiated for the Met Police after Sept 11th. There was ANPR systems around before, but the funding got pushed through at this time to provide the met police with a system that allows them to monitor and watch vehicle movements - primarily terrorists, but major and known criminals. This is something that a PC just cant do in somewhere like London - remembering a few plates is hard, remembering hundreds is a non-starter. ANPR was then expanded to allow for stand-alone units in vans and cars and now we see it more and more in other areas.
It was designed for specific reasons and not for general purpose. Until the other systems are sorted out, its never going to be that accurate.....
All I can say is that I’ve had a very high success rate with ANPR.
It has picked out Stolen vehicles, unregistered, un–taxed, Disqualified drivers, and cloned vehicles, just to mention a few.
It may not be 100% all of the time and sometimes they will be a slight delay in information but the technology is still young.
Bottom line is, it does work.
Hows it fare against cars with no number plates? Or illegal fonts?
Or better still bikes performing wheelies?
Although im in the curious position of not having anything against ANPR as such, it still seems a little too much like a camera to cure all ills, which is why im hostile against scamera technology as used to replace plods on the beat/roads etc.
Or better still bikes performing wheelies?
Although im in the curious position of not having anything against ANPR as such, it still seems a little too much like a camera to cure all ills, which is why im hostile against scamera technology as used to replace plods on the beat/roads etc.
monster1 said:
All I can say is that I’ve had a very high success rate with ANPR.
It has picked out Stolen vehicles, unregistered, un–taxed, Disqualified drivers, and cloned vehicles, just to mention a few.
It may not be 100% all of the time and sometimes they will be a slight delay in information but the technology is still young.
Bottom line is, it does work.
Absolutely - for the purposes it was designed for its excellent. There might be plenty of condition oranges, but for the reds you have a damn good certainty that its something really dodgy - like a stolen car or known crim....
What worries me is the expansion of the use of ANPR beyond what it is capable of. The technology works and is actually excellent - its just a case that people assume that the "system" behind it - like the MOT, Tax and insurance databases are upto date; when they arent.....
monster1 said:
pbrettle,
I see that you are a security consultant.
You didn't set up the crap system in the BP did you?
Eh? What do you mean? BP?
Currently doing lots of work for various police forces which is really interesting. Some of the new systems coming up will save a considerable amount of time and effort..... its just a shame (as usual) that the police have been starved of money for so long. Putting the investment in is good, but its too little too late.... shame as there is real commitment to make it work and provide real value for money. Typical "stuck-in-the-middle" scenario....
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