The government is taking decisive action against illegal ‘ghost’ number plates following a Daily Mail investigation that suggests up to one in every 15 vehicles might have plates being misused by criminals and irresponsible drivers.
Drivers with number plates that evade detection by road cameras could face penalties, including points on their license and the potential for their vehicles to be confiscated, according to new road safety measures announced today.
As part of these initiatives, stricter inspections during annual MOT tests will be implemented to ensure that plates can be effectively scanned by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
The UK currently has an unregulated car registration system, and due to a loophole, plates featuring 3D and 4D designs that evade camera detection are still legally available for purchase.
Such ‘ghost’ plates are being exploited by organized crime rings to avoid being caught, and some drivers are using them to dodge parking tickets and speeding fines.
The Department for Transport (DfT) plans to collaborate with the DVLA, DVSA, and law enforcement to reassess the global standards governing number plates as part of this crackdown.
The DVLA will also carry out more robust checks on number plate suppliers, while new research will explore the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) to identify ghost plates.
Labour MP Sarah Coombes, who has campaigned for tougher laws on the illegal plates, said: ‘Thanks to my and the Daily Mail’s campaign to bring the hidden menace of ghost number plates to light, this Labour Government has listened.
Daily Mail reporter Jack Hardy was able to obtain the ghost plates through an official DVLA-registered supplier, without any checks being carried out
The ghost plates had so-called 4D lettering with characters raised off the flat surface, which can confuse road cameras by creating shadows and distortions
‘There is no good reason to use a ghost plate, it threatens safety on our roads and allows criminals to go under the radar. But they’ve now been rumbled.
‘The government’s landmark road safety strategy is taking decisive steps to end this number plate wild west.’
Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood said: ‘Ghost number plates allow dangerous drivers to evade detection and escape accountability, but we are sending a clear message: if you drive with illegal plates, you will face consequences.
‘As part of our Road Safety Strategy we will consult on introducing penalty points and vehicle seizure for those caught with illegal plates, while empowering the DVLA to conduct more rigorous checks on number plate suppliers.
‘We are also exploring the use of AI alongside Automatic Number Plate Recognition to catch those attempting to evade detection.’
Other proposals to be consulted on under Labour’s plans to improve road safety include introducing mandatory sight tests once drivers reach 70, a minimum learning period for new drivers and penalty points given for not wearing seatbelts.
The Government’s Road Safety Strategy aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65 per cent by 2035, with a target of 70 per cent for children under 16.
The plates ordered by our reporter used the fictitious registration ‘DM17 GTZ’, which includes letters from the acronym of the Mail’s parent group, the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT)
The ‘true ghost plates’ obtained by the Mail were almost entirely invisible when photographed under infrared light, which is used by road cameras at night or in low visibility
Under the proposals, new powers could also be granted to suspend driving licences for people suspected of drink or drug-driving offences.
Some drink-drivers could also have alcolocks fitted to their vehicles, which prevent a car from being started or driven unless the motorist passes a breath test.
The Government will also consult on introducing a three or six-month minimum learning period for learner drivers to reduce the disproportionate number of young people involved in fatal and serious collisions.
The number of people killed on Britain’s roads has generally declined since the 1970s but the decrease has slowed from 2010. There were 7,763 road deaths in 1972, 1,850 in 2010 and 1,602 in 2024.
AA president Edmund King described the plans as a ‘radical reframing of road safety’, while Rod Dennis from the RAC said it ‘can’t come soon enough’ as he welcomed the reintroduction of casualty reduction targets.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: ‘Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy that devastates families and communities. For too long, progress on road safety has stalled. This strategy marks a turning point.
‘We are taking decisive action to make our roads safer for everyone, from new drivers taking their first lessons to older motorists wanting to maintain their independence.
‘The measures we are announcing today will save thousands of lives over the coming decade.’
Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden welcomed some of the ‘sensible measures’, but warned that some of the proposals require closer examination to ensure they ‘are neither disproportional nor anti-motorist’ like Labour’s hated LTNs and blanket 20mph zones.
He added: ‘The real risks on Britain’s roads are the lack of enforcement against drug-driving, uninsured and unlicensed drivers, and dangerous drivers and it’s crucial that rather than just printing new rules those we have are properly enforced against the minority of drivers who put their and everyone else’s lives at risk.’
