Plans to address the issue of counterfeit and altered number plates have been criticized as lacking clarity and effectiveness, according to warnings issued to government officials. The British Number Plates Association (BNMA) has expressed alarm over the prevalence of illegal number plates, including “ghost plates” that can reflect camera flashes, evade detection by speed and bus lane cameras, and are also referred to as 3D or 4D plates.

The concerns raised by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety suggest that as many as one in 15 vehicles on UK roads may be equipped with modified, non-compliant plates designed to avoid detection.

Earlier this year, government ministers unveiled the Road Safety Strategy, which included commitments to impose harsher penalties for driving with illegal plates, such as vehicle seizures, and to grant expanded powers to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Authority (DVLA).

Despite these pledges, there are growing concerns that progress is not swift enough. BNMA Chair Michael Flanagan urged for immediate action, stating that the current plans lack detail and may not effectively combat these crimes.

Labour MP Sarah Coombes highlighted the prevalence of ghost and cloned plates on UK roads, attributing the situation to a lack of oversight among the over 34,000 DVLA-registered suppliers. Coombes called for increased penalties for the use or supply of ghost plates and stricter regulation of the DVLA’s supplier register.

Liberal Democrat MP Al Pinkerton criticized the inefficiency of the UK’s vehicle registration mark system, emphasizing the ease with which cloning and ghost plates can be exploited. Pinkerton pointed out the adverse impact on innocent motorists who face wrongful fines and enforcement actions due to these plates, which also hinder policing efforts by evading detection systems crucial for road safety.

In response to these concerns, a Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson stated that the Road Safety Strategy is actively targeting illegal plates to prevent criminals from evading detection. The DfT has completed consultations on proposals for stricter penalties, plate standards review, and enhanced enforcement, with further steps pending following a thorough review of public feedback.