New automatic number plate recognition cameras are to be installed in village ‘hotspots’ across Suffolk

Suffolk County Council in partnership with the county’s police and crime commissioner and Suffolk Constabulary, has launched the use of the high-tech Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras across the county.

 The system, they say, is being used to help detect and deter rural speeding offences and will hopefully educate drivers on the importance of road safety.

 An ANPR camera will be installed at a site already identified by a parish council, with support from its county councillor, where there is a problem with speeding and / or rat running on roads with a 20 or 30mph speed limit.  

An ANPR camera will identify a speeding vehicle by capturing an image of its number plate. Data will then be shared with the police and the county council which will in turn write to the owner of the vehicle on behalf of both parties explaining that their vehicle has been registered as speeding.  Repeat offences at a particular location could prompt the deployment of speed enforcement vans and subsequent fines to those who breach the speed limit.

Ten ANPR cameras will be purchased and each one will remain in situ for up to one week per site. There is the option of extending this period if needed.

 The project has received funding from the Suffolk 2020 Fund, which is a programme of work all about investing in community projects and improving Suffolk for all residents now and in years to come. The funding secures the ANPR project for a two year pilot where its impact to reduce speeding will be monitored before it receives a further financial commitment.

 Councillor Andrew Reid Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Rural Affairs and Chair of the Suffolk Roadsafe Partnership, says: “The use of ANPR technology is both innovative and necessary in our quest to educate drivers by detecting and deterring speeding in key hot spots across the county.

“I’m pleased that the Suffolk 2020 Fund was able to support this project. It will bring improvements to many Suffolk communities. I look forward to seeing the project develop.”

Tim Passmore Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, says he welcomes the initiative.

“Keeping speeds down in villages is of continuing concern for all of us and the mobile ANPR systems will make a worthwhile contribution to road safety, complementing the existing Community Speed Watch initiative,” he says.

“I’m pleased that the Constabulary is able to support the county council in this project and look forward to monitoring its impact as it’s rolled out across the county.”