Video: Sergeant Kulvinder Dosanjh on the new cameras
Notts Police say they expect to catch more criminals on the roads using new cameras which recognise disqualified drivers.
The force has secured funding for a number of mobile Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras.
They mount on patrol cars and recognise vehicles linked to criminality, such as cars believed to have been used in burglaries.
Neighbourhood police teams in the Gedling, Rushcliffe and Broxtowe borough areas will be the first to use the devices after the force received funding from local councils.
The cameras are being tested by the Gedling team, which will then be rolled out to the Rushcliffe and Broxtowe teams.
Sergeant Kulvinder Dosanjh said: “It will give us much more targeted and focused patrols. When we are driving around doing high visibility patrols at the moment there are cars driving past but it is impossible to check every car.
“But with the ANPR cameras it can do that, so if criminals are using the road network, such as disqualified drivers or people driving cars linked to burglaries, this kit is going to tell us that and make us much sharper in catching people.
“They are going to make us much more proactive rather than reactive.”
Sgt Dosanjh proposed the idea to Local Area Commander Inspector Steven O’Neill and Mark Towlson from Gedling Borough Council.
He had been told by Gedling councillors some funding was available.
And, after talking to the camera makers Cleartone UK about the benefits of the technology, the council agreed to provide the funding.
Colleagues in Rushcliffe and Broxtowe then got in touch with their local authorities about using the technology in their areas.
Sgt Dosanjh added: “I’m very confident having used it for the last few days that it will be a success and once we have got that properly tested and documented I am hopeful that we can roll these out further if funding allows.”
Inspector O’Neill said: “The project seeks to give local neighbourhood teams in Gedling, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe boroughs their own ANPR capability.
“No longer will they need to solely rely on other force or regional resources to support proactive crime or road safety based operations.
“Local policing teams will get daily use of this tactical option to disrupt, deter and detect criminal activity in their area, and by doing so help to increase public confidence in the police.”
Councillor David Ellis, Gedling Borough Council’s portfolio Holder for public protection, said: “This is another great example of Gedling Borough Council working in partnership with neighbourhood policing teams to make the borough a safer place for our residents.
“Anyone who isn’t abiding by the law and driving without tax, insurance or in a stolen vehicle are advised to stay away from Gedling because you will be caught.”
Unlike previous models used by police, which were permanently fixed in to the cars, these new kits are removable and can be fitted into different vehicles, giving more flexibility in their use.
