Ghost plate crackdown gains cross-party backing as MPs call for tougher penalties
- Perry Richardson
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
A renewed push to clamp down on illegal “ghost plates” has gathered political support, with MPs backing tougher enforcement and increased penalties for motorists using number plates designed to evade detection by police and camera systems.
Richard Holden has publicly backed the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety’s efforts to address the growing use of non-compliant number plates. In a statement shared this week, Holden said he was “100% behind” the group’s campaign to tackle what he described as dangerous and illegal plates.
Ghost plates are typically number plates that cannot be clearly read, often due to reflective or protective coatings intended to distort characters when viewed by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras or by enforcement officers. The plates are marketed online and through some suppliers as a way to avoid detection for speeding, congestion charging and other traffic contraventions.
Holden said the plates are being used “to dodge the law and put lives at risk”, adding that their use contributes to higher insurance premiums and undermines road safety. He also noted that discussions in Parliament had focused on the practical steps required to deal with non-compliant plates and improve enforcement outcomes.
Support grows within Parliament for stronger enforcement and higher fines targeting illegal number plates designed to evade detection
Enforcement data and inquiries show that the issue is not confined to private motorists. Targeted compliance checks undertaken by enforcement bodies in London and other major urban centres found a disproportionately high incidence of non-compliant plates among licensed taxis and private hire vehicles, with some operations identifying illegal “ghost” or altered plates on around four in ten checked vehicles in the sector.
This pattern has raised concerns among licensing authorities that some professional drivers are altering or fitting non-compliant plates to evade road user charges, enforcement checks or camera-based penalties, undermining broader regulatory efforts to monitor compliant operation.
Enforcement agencies rely heavily on ANPR technology to monitor uninsured vehicles, identify stolen cars and enforce road traffic regulations.
Plates that defeat or distort these systems can limit the effectiveness of wider traffic management and compliance regimes, including clean air zones and congestion charging schemes.
Holden said he is backing stronger enforcement of the law and higher fines for those found using illegal plates, including the possibility of losing their licence and vehicle. While specific legislative changes have not yet been detailed, campaigners have called for tighter controls on the manufacture and sale of number plates, alongside enhanced roadside enforcement powers.
