TECHNOLOGY designed to reveal the true scale of the use of illegal ‘ghost plates’ has been hailed by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).
The first phase of Operation Phantom – a collaboration between West Midlands Police and Redspeed International – trialled cutting-edge technology to detect vehicles displaying illegal 3D and 4D ‘ghost plates’ specifically designed to evade Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems.
Operation Phantom is a multi-pronged initiative focused on exposing the true scale and impact of ghost plates, deploy new countermeasures to identify and apprehend offenders and raise awareness of the dangers of ghost plates.
During the first two weeks of the pilot, the new Redspeed ‘Sentio Ghost’ camera technology detected 4,335 separate instances of ghost plate use, involving 2,961 individual vehicles that would likely have gone undetected by traditional systems.
This intelligence will inform future enforcement strategies, support changes in law to close loopholes, and contribute to public safety campaigns.
The PCC, Simon Foster, said: “Road safety and tackling crime on our roads is a top priority for me and tackling illegal ghost plates is an important part of that mission.
“These illegal plates are not a minor offence – they are a serious criminal enabler. By using cutting-edge technology, we are exposing offenders who think they can evade the law, and ensuring that they can be brought to justice.
“The results from Operation Phantom show that with innovation and determination, we can tackle crime and keep our roads safe.”
Superintendent Jack Hadley, Head of the Road Policing Unit at West Midlands Police, added: “This operation is a fantastic example of innovation and collaboration between West Midlands Police, the PCC and private industry in action.
“Tackling the use of ghost plates is crucial to our efforts to reduce crime and keep our communities safe.”
Tom Duckham, chief executive of Redspeed International, commented: “We are incredibly proud to have partnered with PCC Simon Foster and West Midlands Police on this ground-breaking initiative.
“Operation Phantom is a first-of-its-kind project in the country, demonstrating how our cutting-edge technology, combined with the force’s proactive approach, can effectively combat evolving threats like ghost plates.
“This collaboration has not only led to safer roads but has also empowered us to protect communities by denying criminals the anonymity they seek.”
