British drivers told to make one simple change as number plate thefts surge
Motorists are being urged to secure their number plates with tamper-proof screws after thefts more than doubled in four years.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) figures obtained by Churchill Motor Insurance reveal that 7,381 incidents of stolen number plates were recorded in the UK last year; That’s more than double the 3,376 thefts seen in 2021, up 30 per cent from 5,683 in the previous 12 months.
The problem also extends to license plate cloning, which has recorded a 53 per cent increase over the same period, from 7,430 incidents in 2021 to 11,394 last year.
Criminals steal or copy license plates to accumulate traffic or parking fines sent to the owner of the original vehicle or to avoid detection by police cameras, facilitating criminal activity.
While license plate thefts are usually noticed quickly, victims of cloning may only realize what has happened when traffic or parking tickets start arriving at the post office.
Kevin Mead, chairman of Churchill Motor Insurance, said: “It is worrying to see reports of stolen and cloned (plate plates) increasing so rapidly.
“This is a worrying trend that continues to cause significant stress and distress to innocent motorists who are forced to deal with months of hardship trying to appeal penalties and clear their names.
“Using tamper-proof screws for plates can help reduce the risk, but it is crucial to take quick action if a plate is suspected to have been stolen or cloned.
“Motorists should immediately report the incident to the police, inform the DVLA and alert their insurers to limit further impact.”
Police forces have also noted an increase in the use of ghost plates, which have a reflective coating that prevents them from being read by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
The All-Party Parliamentary Transport Safety Group published a report in December last year warning that the widespread misuse of number plates was putting road users at risk and threatening national security. He cited studies that claimed one in 15 vehicles may carry number plates designed to evade detection by ANPR cameras.
The British Plate Manufacturers’ Association, which represents companies that produce the majority of plates in the UK, has called for tighter regulation of the industry.
It warned that many suppliers were not registering with the DVLA as required by law and failing to comply with its requirements.
