Sadiq Khan backs crackdown on number plates as driving offences cost millions in unpaid fines

The report warned that Britain's outdated number plate regulations have created a rapidly expanding crisis, enabling criminals and organised crime networks to evade detection on the roads.

According to the inquiry, as many as one in 15 vehicles could be fitted with modified or non-compliant plates, including ghost and stealth versions specifically designed to defeat automatic recognition cameras.

Sir Khan said: "Action needs to be taken to stop the rise in illegal registration plates and Transport for London, and I agree with the recommendations in the APPGTS report."

But he also noted that the revenue loss figures cited in the question were APPG estimates rather than official TfL calculations.

The UK's Automatic Number Plate Recognition network, which captures approximately 90 million reads daily through more than 18,000 cameras, is being seriously compromised by inadequate oversight of plate manufacturing and distribution, the report warned.

Data found that illegal plates are frequently available for purchase online from unregulated suppliers, allowing motorists to dodge road charges, tolls, congestion fees and penalty notices.

The current system was described as a "gaping hole" in national security and policing infrastructure. TfL submitted evidence to the inquiry revealing that penalty charge notice cancellations linked to cloned plates more than doubled over 12 months, jumping from 7,274 cases in 2021 to 16,553 in 2022.

The parliamentary group calculated that the transport authority could be losing £49.8million in revenue each year as a result of ghost plates, with a further £898.8million in fines going uncollected.

However, the mayor was careful to clarify that these figures originated from the APPG rather than TfL itself. "The quoted lost revenue figures are estimates made by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Transport, not official figures from Transport for London," he stated.

The report highlighted that taxis and private hire vehicles have increasingly been fitted with ghost plates to avoid road charging fees and airport drop-off charges.

The mayor confirmed that responsibility for tackling ghost plates rests primarily with the police rather than TfL. Nevertheless, the transport authority said it was actively exploring technological solutions to improve detection capabilities.

"They are currently reviewing and trialling different technical solutions, with the aim of enhancing their camera network to better identify illegal registration plates," the mayor said.

He added that TfL would collaborate with the Metropolitan Police Service and other partners to confront what he described as a pressing concern. The Government is also taking steps to address the proliferation of illegal plates at a national level.

As part of the newly announced Road Safety Strategy, the Government said it would work with the DVLA, the DVSA, the police and industry to review the current standard for number plates.

The Government also said it would be empowering the DVLA to carry out more robust checks on number plate suppliers. Targeted research will also be conducted to understand the full scale of the problem and explore the potential use of AI to identify illegal plates.

The APPG inquiry called for standardised plate designs incorporating security features to meet international standards, alongside a prohibition on 3D and 4D plates.

Sarah Coombes, MP for West Bromwich, who has been calling for new rules, said: "This explosive report lays bare the threat posed by ghost and cloned plates. It also makes clear how the whole system is failing."

RAC Head of Policy Simon Williams added that "urgent action must be taken to stop the widespread abuse of number plates, which has serious and far-reaching consequences for our society, from road safety to national security".