Vehicle Cloning: A Significant Concern for Drivers and Authorities in the UK
According to recent data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by Platehunter.com, more than 12,000 British drivers have faced fines or penalties for offenses related to the display of unfamiliar vehicle registrations.
The figures indicate a rise in reported cases of this crime in recent years. In 2018, there were 4,021 complaints, followed by 9,384 in 2019, and 7,400 in 2020, despite the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Platehunter.com Sales Director, Jon Kirkbright, explained, “People approach us because the police have questioned them about leaving a garage without making payment. Some have received speeding fines in London despite never having been there, all because someone cloned their license plate and used it for criminal activities.”
Kirkbright further emphasized that these statistics highlight an increasing problem of vehicle cloning, causing significant inconvenience and frustration for innocent drivers. In some cases, victims remain unaware of their cloned number plate for months, during which time they may accumulate multiple penalties from various authorities.
The surge in cloned number plate incidents corresponds with the growing deployment of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. Criminals carefully select vehicles with no previous speeding tickets or fines, duplicating the registration onto their own cars. To evade capture by the police, they may choose a number plate resembling that of a similar make, model, and color.
Law enforcement advises swift action to resolve cases of cloned plates by reporting the incident to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and promptly changing the registration plate. Platehunter.com offers a service that enables motorists to acquire a replacement registration private number plate, with the sales director reporting a 300% increase in such purchases over the past year.
Kirkbright added, “By purchasing an affordable number plate from Platehunter.com, all the issues associated with a cloned plate can be resolved. The best part is that it can be done on the same day, ensuring no further complications.”
The DVLA recommends that any motorist who suspects their vehicle has been cloned should contact the police and inform the issuing authority of any fines or penalties they receive. It is essential to provide evidence demonstrating that the vehicle was not present in the area at the time. Further guidance on dealing with vehicle cloning can be found on the website: http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vehicle-registration-numbers-and-number-plates
