A total of 150 new cameras installed across Northamptonshire to help police tackle vehicle crime

The new cameras will increase coverage across rural areas and major towns as well as on the county borders.
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One hundred and fifty new cameras are beginning to be installed across Northamptonshire that will more than double the size of the Automatic Number Plate Registration (ANPR) network for the county.

ANPR cameras read the registration of passing vehicles and check them across several databases, alerting police if a vehicle is stolen or linked to crime.

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The new cameras mark a £1.3 million investment in ANPR technology by Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold and Chief Constable Nick Adderley.

150 new ANPR cameras are beginning to be installed across Northamptonshire.150 new ANPR cameras are beginning to be installed across Northamptonshire.
150 new ANPR cameras are beginning to be installed across Northamptonshire.

The widened network aims to strengthen the response to crime and support road safety as well as initiatives such as the rapid response Interceptor cars.

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold said: “I want Northamptonshire Police to have all the necessary technological support to help them keep the county safe and this major extension to our camera network should send the message that Northamptonshire has no place for criminals to hide.

“The cameras allow us to monitor vehicles of interest moving around our county and while we have had reasonable coverage in our major urban areas, this investment extends that protection across our rural areas further strengthening the urban coverage but greatly enhancing that in rural communities.”

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The locations of the new cameras have been selected based on analysis showing where they will most effectively support the investigation of crime - these were subject to a public consultation before being approved.

The camera sites will be found on the county’s borders and major strategic routes, in rural communities and in the county’s major towns, including some that currently have no fixed ANPR cameras.

Stephen Mold continued: “I am pleased that we are able to make such a significant financial investment in the safety of this county and I want people to feel confident in the Force’s response to crime and its ability to keep them safe.”

Data collected by the ANPR cameras is only used in the prevention and detection of crime and, in some cases, to safeguard vulnerable adults.

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The cameras will additionally be used to assist officers in identifying uninsured vehicles. Research shows that drivers who drive uninsured are more likely to be involved in serious road traffic collisions and be involved in other types of criminality.

Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police, Nick Adderley, said: “We are cracking down hard on crime in Northamptonshire and doubling the size of the camera network significantly increases our capacity to fight crime and protect the public.

“ANPR is yet another tool that helps us to focus our efforts where we can have the most impact and make life difficult for anyone who comes to Northamptonshire to commit crime.”

The installation of the cameras has already started and will continue over the next few months.