Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has hailed the huge impact of a pioneering pilot designed to reveal the true scale of the use of illegal ‘ghost plates’ in the region, with 4,335 instances of these non-compliant plates identified in a single location in Birmingham in just two weeks.

The first phase of Operation Phantom – a landmark collaboration between West Midlands Police and Redspeed International – trialled cutting-edge technology to detect vehicles displaying illegal 3D and 4D ‘ghost plates’ specifically designed to evade Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems.

This has led to a substantial increase in the identification of vehicles using illegal ghost plates and provided the Roads Policing team with a new capability to identify and track vehicles previously ‘invisible’ to West Midlands Police systems.

This deployment of a new generation of ANPR technology not only enhances road safety but is also instrumental in tackling dangerous driving and other criminal activity on our roads.

The pilot is directly aligned with the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan 2025–2029, which makes road safety and bringing offenders to justice top priorities.

Operation Phantom is a multi-pronged initiative focused on:

• Exposing the true scale and impact of ghost plates
• Deploying new countermeasures to identify and apprehend offenders
• Educating and raising public awareness of the dangers of ghost plates

During the first two weeks of the pilot, the new Redspeed ‘Sentio Ghost’ camera technology detected 4,335 separate instances of ghost plate use, involving 2,961 individual vehicles that would likely have gone undetected by traditional systems.

This intelligence will inform future enforcement strategies, support changes in law to close loopholes, and contribute to public safety campaigns.

Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, above, who chairs the West Midlands Road Safety Strategic Group, said: “Road safety and tackling crime on our roads is a top priority for me and tackling illegal ghost plates is an important part of that mission.

“These illegal plates are not a minor offence – they are a serious criminal enabler. By using cutting-edge technology, we are exposing offenders who think they can evade the law, and ensuring that they can be brought to justice.

“The results from Operation Phantom show that with innovation and determination, we can tackle crime and keep our roads safe.”

Superintendent Jack Hadley, Head of the Road Policing Unit at West Midlands Police, added: “This operation is a fantastic example of innovation and collaboration between West Midlands Police, the PCC and private industry in action. Tackling the use of ghost plates is crucial to our efforts to reduce crime and keep our communities safe.

“The results of Operation Phantom will have a lasting positive impact, making our streets safer and ensuring our roads are not a haven for criminals.

“This project directly supports our joint commitment to safer roads to reduce crime and make our communities safer for all. I am immensely proud of the work so far and the legacy this project will leave.”

Tom Duckham, CEO of Redspeed International, commented: “We are incredibly proud to have partnered with PCC Simon Foster and West Midlands Police on this ground-breaking initiative. Operation Phantom is a first-of-its-kind project in the country, demonstrating how our cutting-edge technology, combined with the force’s proactive approach, can effectively combat evolving threats like ghost plates.

“This collaboration has not only led to safer roads but has also empowered us to protect communities by denying criminals the anonymity they seek.”

The success of Operation Phantom will guide future deployments across the West Midlands, ensuring ongoing monitoring, evaluation and enhancement of countermeasures to keep the region at the forefront of road safety and enforcement.

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