HL Deb 25 October 1993 vol 549 c70WA
The Earl of Munster

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in light of the new speed deterrent technology installed on the M.20 employing number-plate character recognition, the computers could be adapted to recognise stolen or false plates or vehicles in suspected crime and to alert the police.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

The overall accuracy of such a system is not yet at a level where this might be viable.

The Earl of Munster

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether existing traffic-flow cameras on motor-ways could be replaced by character-reading cameras and linked to a central database in order to recognise stolen or false number plates or vehicles and to alert the police.

Earl Ferrers

The existing system of traffic flow cameras is essential for managing motorway traffic flows. The overall accuracy of a number-plate character recognition of the type which is described is not yet at a level where it might be viable.

The Earl of Munster

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the new speed deterrent technology is able to identify number plates on motor cycles.

Earl Ferrers

Yes.