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Harrogate MP welcomes crackdown on illegal number plates

Monday, 7 September 2026 at 14:28

A new nationwide crackdown on illegal number plates is to get underway.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon has welcomed a nationwide crackdown on illegal number plates.

The government is funding a new National Roads Policing Coordination Centre, which will bring together police forces across England to share intelligence, technology and data.

Officers will target vehicles using cloned, missing or so-called “ghost” plates to avoid detection by cameras.

New technology being trialled includes specialised goggles capable of identifying number plates which have been altered to make them unreadable.

Illegal plates can be used to evade speeding, parking and clean air zone penalties, as well as by organised crime groups transporting illegal goods.

Drivers using an incorrectly displayed number plate can currently be fined up to £1,000.

Mr Gordon said:

“Traffic offences are often seen as lesser crimes but in reality, illegal number plates are the tip of the iceberg for organised crime.

“I get emails every week from residents who just want the roads to be safe.

“It’s good to see a joined-up, coordinated effort to tackle illegal plates across the country. Together, we can make the roads safer for law-abiding drivers and passengers across North Yorkshire.”

The crackdown forms part of the government’s Road Safety Strategy, which has consulted on stronger penalties for drivers using illegal plates and improvements to enforcement.

Roads Minister Justin Madders said:

“We’re cracking down on illegal number plates with new policing resource and innovative tech.

“Illegal number plates are used for crimes from evading parking charges to drug trafficking and we’re stepping in to protect drivers.

“This is a signal to anyone using illegal number plates that their time is up. We will catch you and our roads and streets will be safer for it.”

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