Recent reports have revealed that one in 15 cars on UK roads may be fitted with illegal ‘ghost plates’, designed to help criminals evade detection by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. These plates, often created using reflective sprays, films, or cloned registrations, allow offenders to dodge fines, avoid road charges, and even move undetected while committing serious crimes.
Experts warn that these plates pose not only a road safety issue but also a national security threat, enabling organised crime and terrorism. With millions of vehicles potentially affected, MPs are calling for urgent reforms to crack down on this growing menace.
What Are Ghost Plates?
Ghost plates are those that have been deliberately altered to avoid detection by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. These modifications often involve reflective sprays, coatings, or films that make the plate unreadable under infrared light. In some cases, criminals use cloned plates — illegally copying another vehicle’s registration — to disguise their identity.
According to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety (APPGTS), these are now a widespread issue, with an estimated one in 15 vehicles carrying plates designed to evade detection.
Why Criminals Use Ghost Plates
Ghost plates are not just a minor nuisance. They are a tool for serious crime. By avoiding ANPR cameras, offenders can:
- Dodge road charges and fines such as London’s ULEZ or congestion zones.
- Evade speeding tickets and other traffic enforcement.
- Facilitate organised crime, including drug trafficking and vehicle theft.
- Travel undetected for terrorist or gang-related activity, posing a national security risk.
Shockingly, some sellers openly advertise sprays and reflective films online for as little as £4, making it easy for rogue motorists to exploit the system.
The Scale of the Problem
The APPGTS report warns that the misuse of reg numbers has “rapidly ballooned” in recent years, with around 2 million motorists believed to be using doctored plate numbers.
The UK’s ANPR network captures 90 million reads per day across more than 18,000 cameras, but ghost plates critically undermine this system. This means uninsured drivers, criminals, and even potential terrorists can move around undetected.
According to Daily Express, in London, the issue is particularly alarming: investigations found that almost half of taxi drivers were carrying fake or non-compliant registration numbers.
National Security Concerns
Experts warn that these types of reg numbers are not just a road safety issue — they are a national security threat. Criminals and terrorists can exploit the loophole to carry out attacks or move contraband without being tracked. The APPGTS report even raised fears of a potential vehicle-borne terror attack using cars fitted with these reg numbers.
With more than 34,000 number plate suppliers operating in the UK, many with little oversight or background checks, MPs argue that regulation is dangerously lax.
Calls for Reform
The growing crisis has prompted urgent calls for reform. MPs and road safety groups are demanding:
- Stricter regulation of number plate suppliers.
- Crackdowns on online sales of sprays and films that create these plates.
- Harsher penalties for motorists caught using illegal plates.
- Better enforcement to protect the integrity of the ANPR system.
The Independent reports that the government is under pressure to act, with campaigners warning that sellers of these types of plates have “gone under the radar for too long”.
Final Thoughts
The revelation that one in 15 cars may have plates like this should alarm every UK driver. What might seem like a cheap trick to dodge a fine is in reality a tool that enables organised crime, undermines road safety, and threatens national security.
As MPs push for tougher laws, the message is clear: ghost plates are not harmless gimmicks — they are a dangerous loophole that must be closed. For ordinary motorists, the takeaway is simple: check your plates, ensure they are legal, and support efforts to keep Britain’s roads safe.
With reports revealing that 1 in 15 cars may be fitted with illegal ‘ghost plates’ to help criminals evade detection, many drivers are reassessing their vehicles.
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