Police target illegal plates

Jan 28 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

DRIVERS of vehicles with illegal registration plates will be targeted by Merseyside Police from today as part of a national crackdown.

Officers say Operation Larch has been prompted by concern at the growing use of unlawful registration plates by motorists attempting to frustrate the effectiveness of enforcement cameras.

Acting Inspector Steve Hardy said: “Criminals make use of vehicles to commit crimes and in some cases, will tamper with number plates to try and avoid detection by roadside cameras.

“This ongoing campaign will target criminals through their use of the roads.

“Total War on Crime demands we use every tool in our kit to cause as much disruption as possible to the criminals who use our roads.”

Insp Hardy, of Merseyside’s Roads Policing Department, said: “We are not suggesting that every one who has tampered with their number plate is a criminal.

“But by ensuring every road user abides by the law, it then allows the technology we have to work more efficiently.”