More criminals cloning number plates to swerve cameras issuing eco-fines

Scam is the enemy of the motorist, says RAC, as burden of proof falls on unsuspecting drivers

THOUSANDS of car owners are having their number plates cloned as criminals seek to avoid the expansion in clean air zones and low traffic neighbourhoods.

Copying a licence plate allows a fraudster to drive with impunity, meaning they can ignore speed cameras and avoid charges when entering the Mayor of London’s Ultra Low Emission and Zone (Ulez) and congestion areas.

If they are caught by camera breaking the law, the fine or Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) is sent to the unsuspecting owner of the vehicle, who then has to try to prove it was not their car involved in the offence.

Recent data suggest there are about 13,000 cases of cloning being reported each year in England and Wales, up from 4,000 in 2018.

Motoring experts believe the expansion in the use of road side cameras is largely to blame for the increase, with criminals who clone able to avoid thousands of pounds in fines and charges.

In order to clone a number plate the fraudster can simply identify a vehicle that closely resembles the make, model and age of their own.

They will then arrange to have a fake plate made up with the same registration number as the car they are cloning.

While number plates can only be legally supplied by a DVLA registered company there are criminals operating on the black market.

The scam makes it extremely difficult for the police to catch the criminal, even if they are using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.

In many cases victims are being advised that the best course of action is to re-register their car with the DVLA, using a personalised number plate.

But this can be expensive and is not foolproof as there have been cases where the new private plate has also been cloned by the same criminals.

Simon Williams, spokesman of the RAC, said: “Number plate cloning is on the increase and it is all related to ANPR and all the enforcement [actions].

“In some cities there are now congestion zones and in London there is the Ulez which charges £12.50 a day for non-compliant vehicles. The Ulez zone is due to expand later this year and so there is an incentive for criminals to clone rather than pay.

“Cloning is the enemy of the modern motorist and it is getting worse.”

The scam can also make the roads more dangerous because it allows those using cloned vehicles to drive at excessive speeds without fear of being flashed by a camera and fined.

A DVLA spokesman said if there was evidence two vehicles were displaying the same registration plate, they could provide an alternative licence number without a fee, but the driver would need to pay to have the plate made up.