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> Operation Sentinel News Releases
Burglars, robbers and other criminals using Hertfordshire’s roads – beware! A new dedicated team of specially trained officers are now patrolling the county using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to target criminals.
This team is part of a new way of working with ANPR in the county – called ‘Operation Sentinel’ – to stop criminals in their tracks. It is led by Hertfordshire’s Chief Constable Frank Whiteley, who is the national lead for ANPR.
Top performing officers across the force have been selected for the team, which has the specific aim of patrolling Hertfordshire’s roads to keep law-abiding motorists safe and to target criminals and unsafe drivers. The Operation Sentinel Team carries out proactive operations with local policing teams, as well as neighbouring forces. It also supports the CDRP-based ANPR operations across the county.
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.
Updates from the Operation Sentinel Intercept Team are available on the Hertfordshire Constabulary YouTube® site – http://www.youtube.com/user/hertspolice
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