TWO ARRESTED AND FIVE VEHICLES SEIZED FOLLOWING ANPR OPERATION IN HEMEL HEMPSTEAD


TWO men have been arrested following an Automatic Number Plate Recognition - ANPR Operation in Hemel Hempstead on Monday (July 6th) as part of Operation Sentinel.

Tamas Pinter, 36 from Wharfedale, Hemel Hempstead has been charged with possession of a class B drug and driving without insurance. He is due to appear at West Herts Magistrates Court on July 20.

A 23-year-old man from Watford was cautioned for common assault which took place on June 25th on St Albans Road Watford.

Five vehicles were also seized for having no insurance as part of the operation.

Chief Inspector Mike Pryce, Chief Inspector for Dacorum, said: “These operations will continue to be conducted in Dacorum with the support of Headquarters and the ANPR intercept team, who are a team of specially trained officers. ANPR has already proved to be an invaluable tool in helping officers arrest hundreds of criminals across the county and by conducting these operations in Dacorum we continue to deny these criminals the use of our roads.”

The Operation Sentinel Team carries out proactive operations with local policing teams, as well as neighbouring forces.

The Constabulary has a dedicated ANPR focus desk in the Force Control Room to support Operation Sentinel. An integral part of the team, the operators provide 24 hour intelligence and radio support to the ANPR Intercept Units.
About ANPR:
• An ANPR camera can read a number plate every second.
• In 2008, ANPR led to over 900 arrests for offences including possessing offensive weapons, burglary and drug dealing, as well as the seizure of over 1500 unsafe vehicles.
• ANPR is a crime reduction and investigative tool – it reads number plates and comparing them against national police and vehicle databases.
• ANPR targets criminals, not innocent law abiding motorists.
• ANPR not only reduces crime but can be used to reduce road deaths and serious injuries on the roads by highlighting un-roadworthy vehicles – drivers without insurance are more likely to have been involved in other crimes.

July 2010