We need to get to grips with ANPR.
A few years ago, I was offered access to ANPR for a fee of [redacted].
I understand there was/is a ‘gateway’ and the request for ANPR records needs to be made within 90 days of the loss.
There is a process that enables ANPR to be interrogated. This is an immensely valuable resource for detecting and preventing vehicle-related crime; why is it not used?
For example, criminals not only need to get to a vehicle they wish to steal, but they also might need to come back for their own vehicle after the stolen one has been taken elsewhere. There is an obvious opportunity to track stolen cars, but also to identify vehicles travelling in tandem.
From the insurers and police perspective, tracking the stolen car immediately pre-theft may throw up some interesting results; was the vehicle where it was claimed to have been stolen from? Was the pattern of usage consistent with the insured use? Was the car taken from the location stated?
Forecourt cameras are another under-utilised information/intelligence source.