Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the trend in the number of reports of suspected number plate (a) cloning and (b) misidentification.

It is an offence to use a vehicle displaying cloned number plates which is punishable by an unlimited fine and/or up to two years in prison.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. The evidence being gathered will be considered when evaluating potential future action to help address this important issue.

It is important to note that not every case of a misidentified registration number will be a case of cloned number plates. While some reports may relate to cloned number plates, others may be the result of administrative errors, for example incorrect entry of registration numbers.

Anyone who thinks their number plate may have been cloned should contact the police immediately and return any fines received to the issuing authorities. If there is a possibility that the number plate has been cloned, the DVLA can provide customers with letters that can be used as supporting evidence and can also provide a replacement vehicle registration number.

Information on the suspected number of cloned number plates is not available by region or geographic location.