Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is a technology used to automatically read motor vehicle number plates by use of optical character recognition. Police uses ANPR technology for a range of enforcement, staff safety and public safety purposes. This chapter sets out policy principles for the collection, retention, use and disposal of Police owned number plate information (NPI); Police use of NPI collected by third party operators; guidance and examples of approved ANPR use; and the Governance and Assurance Reporting model.

This chapter relates to rewards that are posted to encourage the public to supply material information leading to the conviction of an offender(s) responsible for committing a serious crime; the whereabouts of a long‐term missing person suspected of being the victim of crime; the return of lost or stolen property; or to clarify and/or resolve Police investigations.