Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of (a) the effectiveness of current legal penalties for possessing number plates designed to evade ANPR detection, (b) the potential impact of increasing the penalty for possessing such plates on the level of use of such number plates, and (c) if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward new legislation on this issue.

The Department has considered concerns raised by the police and road safety groups that incorrect, altered or false number plates can make it harder to identify vehicle users and pursue offenders.

As part of the Road Safety Strategy, the Government consulted on introducing penalty points and vehicle seizure for being in charge of a vehicle with such a plate. The consultation closed on 11 May 2026. Responses are being analysed and any legislative proposals will be brought forward in the usual way.

DVLA works with the police, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime. DVLA enforcement officers also work with the police and Trading Standards on compliance activity relating to number plate suppliers. On-road enforcement is a matter for the police.