Crime and intelligence - Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Policy (S100)

1.0 Summary of Changes

1.1 This policy has been amended on its review with minor grammatical changes together with an update to owner details and a new EIA.

2.0 What this Policy is About

2.1 This policy provides an overview of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems and their capabilities. Nationally the strategic intent is to ‘target criminals through their use of the roads’.

2.2 ANPR is an internationally recognised tool that can significantly reduce volume crime, heighten patrol focus, increase detection rates, tackle cross border crime and provide vital intelligence for use in counter terrorist and serious crime work. It is a technology that captures registration images displayed on all types of vehicle and transfers them to a database for intelligence and analytical purpose.

2.3 It is a strategic objective of the force for ANPR to be a general policing tool and as such the force will seek to broaden its understanding and use across all staff and departments.

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedures is mandatory.

3.0 Statement of Policy

3.1 Essex Police and Kent Police will use their ANPR systems in accordance with the force ANPR strategy for the business exploitation of ANPR in a lawful and ethical manner and in relation to the prevention and detection of:

• Terrorism;
• Serious crime;
• Volume crime;
• Fatal and serious injury road traffic incidents; and
• Vulnerable missing persons.

3.2 These will be achieved by more focused and intelligence-driven police activities to deny criminals the use of the roads.

4.0 Implications of the Policy

4.1 Finance / Staffing / Training / Other

4.1.1 ANPR Strategy Board and Capital Board provide the governance and financial structure.

4.2 Risk Assessment(s)

4.2.1 There are no risks associated with this policy – the associated procedures/SOPs will contain their own risk assessment sections.

4.3 Equality Impact Assessment

4.3.1 An Equality Impact Assessment has been carried out and shows the proposals in this policy would have no potential or actual differential impact on grounds of age, sex, disability, race, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership, sexual orientation, gender reassignment and pregnancy and maternity.

5.0 Consultation

5.1 The following have been consulted during the formulation of this document:

• Kent: Force Control Room
• Kent PNC Bureau
• Kent Investigation Management Unit
• Kent Force Investigation Bureau
• Essex PNC Bureau
• Essex OPC
• Essex IMU
• Essex FIB
• Essex Federation
• Essex Equality and Diversity Co-ordinator
• Essex Health & Safety
• Essex Strategic Change
• Essex Equality of Services Manager
• Essex PSD Superintendent

6.0 Monitoring and Review

6.1 Changes with legislation and national guidance will influence the timeliness of any review and changes to this policy.

6.2 This policy will be monitored by the ANPR Manager and will be reviewed every two years.

7.0 Data Security

7.1 Essex Police and Kent Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management Policy – W 1000 Policy – Information Management.

7.2 Retention & Disposal of Records

7.2.1 Essex Police and Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention & Disposal Policy – W 1012 Procedure/SOP - Records Review, Retention and Disposal.

7.2.2 We will only hold data for as long as necessary for the purposes for which we collected.