Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)

ANPR or Automatic Number Plate Recognition is CCTV and computer imaging technology combined specifically to read the number plates from vehicles as they pass through sensors.

ANPR can be used in several ways.

Journey Time Calculation

Journey times are calculated by placing two ANPR sensors at either end of a route. The time it takes for a vehicle to travel between sensors is recorded and then compared with historical norms to calculate an overall journey time. In this scenario, number plate data is discarded as soon as the journey time for a specific vehicle has been extracted.

This information is used in a variety of ways. Journey times can be displayed on our websites, Variable Message Signs and sent to travel organisations.

Police Enforcement

Currently Portsmouth City Council make their ANPR number plate information available to the Police. By comparing the number plate data with a database of 'hotcars', stolen cars and criminals driving illegal vehicles can be identified and tracked down.

Currently neither Hampshire County Council nor Southampton City Council pass their ANPR information to the police, Hampshire do however assist the police with crime detection.