Fixed penalty fine's and illegal Numberplate's

[Name Removed] made this Freedom of Information request to Kent Police This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was successful.

Dear Kent Police.
Please may we have details of how many fixed penalty fine's have been issued by Kent Police traffic officers,in the following years : 2001-2002 - 2001-2002 - 2002-2003 - 2003-2004 - 2004-2005 - 2005-2006 - 2006-2007 - 2007-2008 - 2008-2009 - 2010-2011 in relation to drivers who have displayed numberplates that were not in accordance with The Road Vehicles(Display of registration Marks)Regulations 2001.
(DVLA Document Ref V796).

We understand that it is an offence to alter,rearrange or misrepresent letters or numbers in order to form names or words or in such a way that it makes it differcult to read the registration number. The DVLA state " The Police can issue fixed penality fines for illegally displayed numberplates,offenders are liable to a maximum fine of £1000, and in some cases the mark can be removed.
Vehicles with illegally displayed numberplates may be subject to MOT test failure.

To re-cap : We wish to see how Kent Police are coping with this breach of the law.

Yours faithfully,

[Name Removed] [Name Removed]

Freedom of Information Freedom of Information,

2 Attachments

Dear Mr. [Name Removed],
 
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST 12/01/67
 

Thank you for your request received by Kent Police on the 26 January
2012. I note you seek access, in summary, to the following information:

 

Information regarding fixed penalty notices issued by police officers.

 

As stated within the Freedom of Information Act 2000 we will endeavour to
provide a response promptly and in any event within the statutory
twenty day deadline, the twentieth working day being the 23 February 2012.

 

Your interest in Kent Police is appreciated and pending a specific
response to your request, I enclose a sheet, which summarises your
rights. Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter,
please write or contact me on telephone number 01622 654413 quoting the
reference number above.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Laura Birchley

 

Freedom of Information Team
Legal Services Department
Kent Police
Force HQ
Sutton Road
Maidstone
Kent ME15 9BZ

E-mail: [email address]
Tel: +44 (0)1622 654429/654413
Fax: +44 (0)1622 652029
Internal: 19-4429/4413

Dear Laura.

To confirm, this is just the information on FPN's for Illegally Displayed Numberplate's, NOT all FPN's accross the force area.

Yours sincerely,

[First Name removed)

Freedom of Information Freedom of Information,

1 Attachment

Dear Mr. [Name Removed]
 
Yes to confirm that is correct. However we also have a request relating to
'How many people,currently employed by Kent Police have a Criminal Record,
either Spent or Current ?' which is on hold as you have not responded to
indicate whether our web-site provided a satisfactory response.
As we are now processing a new request from you please can you confirm as
soon as possible whether your previous request relating to staff can be
considered as withdrawn.
 
Many thanks
 
Charlotte Pickin
 
Freedom of Information Team
Legal Services Department
Kent Police
Force HQ
Sutton Road
Maidstone
Kent ME15 9BZ

E-mail: [email address]
Tel: +44 (0)1622 654429/654413
Fax: +44 (0)1622 652029
Internal: 19-4429/4413

>>> [Name Removed] [Name Removed] <[FOI #103010 email]> 26/01/2012
15:41 >>>
     Dear Laura.
    
     To confirm, this is just the information on FPN's for Illegally
     Displayed Numberplate's, NOT all FPN's accross the force area.
    
     Yours sincerely,
    
     [Name Removed]
    
    

show quoted sections

Dear Kent Police.

The Status of my last FOI was updated as soon as I received a reply from yourselves.
I have checked my user account and note that it is currently flagged as " Sucessfull".
This current FOI request has NO bearing on the last request. Please treat this request in it's own right.
We look forward to receiving your reply on this Traffic Police issue.

Yours sincerely,

[Name Removed]

Dear Kent Police.

The Status of my last FOI was updated as soon as I received a reply from yourselves.
I have checked my user account and note that it is currently flagged as " Sucessfull".
This current FOI request has NO bearing on the last request. Please treat this request in it's own right.
We look forward to receiving your reply on this Traffic Police issue.

Awaiting your rapid and professional response.

[Name Removed]

Freedom of Information Freedom of Information,

1 Attachment

Dear Mr. [Name Removed]
 
We understand and as you have indicated your previous request is
successful then we will consider our record for that one completed.
 
As for your recent request (12/01/67) we will be responding to you as soon
as possible and in any case within the 20 working day time limit - which
as your request was received on 26 January is 23 February 2012.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries relating to
this.
 
Many thanks
 
Charlotte Pickin
 
 
 
Freedom of Information Team
Legal Services Department
Kent Police
Force HQ
Sutton Road
Maidstone
Kent ME15 9BZ

E-mail: [email address]
Tel: +44 (0)1622 654429/654413
Fax: +44 (0)1622 652029
Internal: 19-4429/4413

>>> [Name Removed] [Name Removed] <[FOI #103010 email]> 02/02/2012
08:41 >>>
     Dear Kent Police.
    
     The Status of my last FOI was updated as soon as I received a reply
     from yourselves.
     I have checked my user account and note that it is currently
     flagged as " Sucessfull".
     This current FOI request has NO bearing on the last request. Please
     treat this request in it's own right.
     We look forward to receiving your reply on this Traffic Police
     issue.
    
     Awaiting your rapid and professional response.
    
     [Name Removed]
    
    

show quoted sections

Dear Ms Pickin (Kent Police)

We accept your reply,however,to save time,please ensure that in future,any request(s)that we might make,are taken on their own merit,and the status of any such request(s)are firstly fully investigated by the Kent Police Legal Services Team.
ALL sucessful FOI requests will be marked as such.

Yours Professionally

[Name Removed]

Freedom of Information Freedom of Information,

2 Attachments

Dear Mr. [Name Removed],
 
With reference to the Freedom of Information Request that we received from
you on 26 January 2012 please find attached the response letter.
 
Should you have any queries relating to this then please do not hesitate
to contact me.
 
Many thanks
 
Charlotte Pickin
 
 
Freedom of Information Team
Legal Services Department
Kent Police
Force HQ
Sutton Road
Maidstone
Kent ME15 9BZ

E-mail: [email address]
Tel: +44 (0)1622 654429/654413
Fax: +44 (0)1622 652029
Internal: 19-4429/4413

Dear Kent Police.

Thank-you kindly for the quick and comprehensive reply in respect to our recent FOI request.
We are somewhat confused by the figures stated,and was wondering if there were any on-going operational issues within the Kent Police traffic divison in regards to the enforcement of this traffic violation and the issue of FPN's ?
We see on a very regular basis,many car's in the Kent Police area,driving with illegal numberplates,yet your figures show a dramatic drop in penalty notices in the year from 2010 to 2011.
There is however a dramatic rise in notices from 2005 to 2010,as previously stated by yourselves and reproduced below.
It is our opinion that the use of so called "personal" and therefore "illegal" numberplates are on the rise,yet Kent Police are somehow not fully addressing this issue.(Note : Figures Below).
May we suggest that all Kent Police patrol car's fitted with ANPR systems,start stopping ALL car's displaying these types of numberplate,in accordance with the law. Hopefully in the years 2011-2012 we can see perhaps another dramatic rise in FPN's.

Number of Fixed Penalty Notices
2001/2002
223
2002/2003
213
2003/2004
779
2004/2005
607
2005/2006
727
2006/2007
849
2007/2008
1304
2008/2009
1394
2009/2010
1015
2010/2011
612

Yours sincerely,

[Name Removed]

Freedom of Information Freedom of Information,

1 Attachment

Dear Mr [Name Removed],
 
I regret that I am not in a position to comment on the statistics
provided.  You will appreciate that traffic officers are tasked with
numerous duties with some operations taking precedence depending on
seriousness.  All offences identified by officers will be acted upon where
circumstances permit.
 
Yours sincerely,
Mr Giovanni Cacciacarro
 
Freedom of Information Team
Legal Services Department
Kent Police
Force HQ
Sutton Road
Maidstone
Kent ME15 9BZ

E-mail: [email address]
Tel: +44 (0)1622 654429/654413
Fax: +44 (0)1622 652029
Internal: 19-4429/4413

>>> [Name Removed] [Name Removed] <[FOI #103010 email]> 11/02/2012
21:14 >>>
     Dear Kent Police.
    
     Thank-you kindly for the quick and comprehensive reply in respect
     to our recent FOI request.
     We are somewhat confused by the figures stated,and was wondering if
     there were any on-going operational issues within the Kent Police
     traffic divison in regards to the enforcement of this traffic
     violation and the issue of FPN's ?
     We see on a very regular basis,many car's in the Kent Police
     area,driving with illegal numberplates,yet your figures show a
     dramatic drop in penalty notices in the year from 2010 to 2011.
     There is however a dramatic rise in notices from 2005 to 2010,as
     previously stated by yourselves and reproduced below.
     It is our opinion that the use of so called "personal" and
     therefore "illegal" numberplates are on the rise,yet Kent Police
     are somehow not fully addressing this issue.(Note : Figures Below).
     May we suggest that all Kent Police patrol car's fitted with ANPR
     systems,start stopping ALL car's displaying these types of
     numberplate,in accordance with the law. Hopefully in the years
     2011-2012 we can see perhaps another dramatic rise in FPN's.
    
     Number of Fixed Penalty Notices
     2001/2002
     223
     2002/2003
     213
     2003/2004
     779
     2004/2005
     607
     2005/2006
     727
     2006/2007
     849
     2007/2008
     1304
     2008/2009
     1394
     2009/2010
     1015
     2010/2011
     612
    
     Yours sincerely,
    
     [Name Removed]
    
    

show quoted sections

[Name Removed] (Account suspended) left an annotation ()

We note the following fact :
We understand through our own internet research that the ACPO have voiced concerns over the growing use of
personal number plates, and that there is some concern that the owners of altered number plates could be
driving un-lawfully.

We note that a simple change in letter spacing can make 13 look like B or 8. The letter O can look like D, 12
can look like 15 and the letter S can get confused with the number 5.It is our concern that vehicles involved in
hit and run accidents can be difficult to trace, and that some ANPR speed cameras cannot read this type of
altered number plate.
Let's hope that ALL Police forces accross the UK take heed of this interest taken by the ACPO,and that traffic officers actually start by issuing more FPN's for this offence.