Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead on Automated Number Plate Recognition, Assistant Chief Constable Paul Kennedy, said:

 “There are no proposals at present for extending the ANPR data retention period. However, the ANPR User Group is exploring the legal and operational implications of extending the data retention period. This work will involve an independent and impartial academic exercise. If, as a result of that exercise, further consideration is judged to be appropriate, it will be subject to a privacy impact assessment  and consultation. There is no proposal at present for a public consultation, as there is no existing proposal to extend the current data retention period.

“ACC Kennedy, as the National  lead for ANPR, regularly consults with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and the Surveillance Camera Commissioner (SCC) to discuss the data retention period and other ANPR related matters. We actively seek the views of these regulatory authorities.

“ACC Kennedy can be contacted through the NPCC press office. He leads the National User Group, which has representatives from the police forces, other approved law enforcement agencies, Home Office, ICO and the SCC. This is the governance body that deals with a range of ANPR matters, including the debate on the data retention period.

“ANPR is a vital tool used by the police and other law enforcement agencies to keep people safe. For the last ten years, it has proved to be a highly effective means of combating terrorism, serious crime, complex investigations and protecting local communities. The National User Group seeks to exploit ANPR technology as fully as possible, whilst also protecting the privacy of individuals and ensuring the proportionate use of ANPR data”.