Crackdown on illegal car number plates

Police are setting their sights on rogue drivers with a crackdown on cars with illegal number plates.

Northumbria Police have tasked a team of special constables with catching criminal gangs who use false number plates to avoid detection.

The volunteers will be assisting Sergeant Pinner Rana and the force’s motor patrols team in a force-wide operation starting this weekend.

The crackdown will also see action taken against drivers who have altered their plates aesthetically – with offenders facing fines of up to £1,000 and the prospect of further action from the DVLA.

Sgt Rana said: “Tampering with the numbers or letters of a registration plate is an offence, whether that’s to try to form a name or word, make a vehicle look younger, or to change a plate entirely.

“This operation will run throughout November, with regular checks on the area’s roads and we will take action against anybody whose number plates have had digits illegally altered, re-arranged, obscured or tinted.”

He added: “We know that some organised crime groups try to use the road network using false plates, and they will be our top target.

“I would strongly encourage drivers to take time to visit https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates and make sure their registration plate is lawful."

Chief Superintendent Sarah Pitt, force lead for volunteers at Northumbria Police, said: “We know what a hugely important role our specials play in assisting officers.”

People with suspicions can contact Northumbria Police on 101 or go to www. northumbria.police.uk.