Number plate reform will safeguard public safety

NPED supports inquiry into illegal registration plates, saysAlan Wood

NPED Services has supported the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Transport Safety’s inquiry into illegal registration plates, published this week as Ghosts on the Road.

The inquiry, led by Andy MacNae MP and Sarah Coombes MP, highlights the growing threat of ‘ghost plates’ and other tampered plates that evade automatic number plate recognition (ANPR). Evidence revealed:

• More than 34,000 registered suppliers, many with little oversight.
• Rogue traders selling plates designed to defeat enforcement cameras.
• Links to organised crime, identity theft, and large-scale tax evasion.
• Up to 1 in 15 vehicles carrying modified or non-compliant plates.

The APCPG's report calls for urgent reform, recommending:

• Overhauling the plate sale system with tighter regulation and vetting.
• Standardising plate design with security features; banning 3D/4D plates.
• Mandating MOT compliance checks and strengthening DVLA enforcement.
• Increasing penalties and seizing vehicles of repeat offenders.
• Establishing a national taskforce on plate compliance.
• Exploring the Vehicle Compliance Management Act (VCMA) pilot as a self-funding solution.

NPED Services contributed operational insight and advocacy expertise to ensure recommendations are practical and proportionate. NPED is also leading the VCMA pilot, designed to deliver a robust compliance framework that addresses the weaknesses identified.

The inquiry shines a light on a growing threat to road safety and public trust. The VCMA pilot offers a clear pathway to reform – one that is fair, enforceable, and sustainable.

The APPG report makes clear that registration plates are critical to road safety and national infrastructure. Reform is urgent, and NPED will continue to champion solutions that protect motorists, strengthen enforcement, and safeguard public safety.

Alan Wood is chief executive of NPED Services