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The Department for Transport (DfT) is funding a new roads policing team to strengthen enforcement against vehicles using illegal number plates.
The National Roads Policing Coordination Centre (NRPCC) will bring together police forces across England to share intelligence, improve collaboration and make greater use of data. New technology will also be trialled, including specialised equipment designed to identify plates that have been altered to make them unreadable by cameras.
The action follows growing concern around number plate cloning. Figures obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) show reports of suspected cloned registrations increased by 53% between 2021 and 2025, from 7,430 to 11,395 cases.
Cloned and illegal plates can result in legitimate vehicle keepers receiving penalties for offences they did not commit, including parking, speeding and Clean Air Zone charges. The issue can be particularly relevant for businesses operating large rental and leasing fleets.
The Government is also considering stronger penalties for the use of illegal number plates as part of its wider road safety strategy. Drivers currently face a fine of up to £1,000 for displaying a number plate incorrectly.
Read the DfT announcement on the number plate crackdown (GOV.UK)
