Police scanners seek out 'wanted'

The system helps to locate cars with wanted markers

Police using car number plate scanning technology arrested 19 people during a crackdown on crime suspects in Bristol.

The automated number plate recognition system (ANPR) scans car registrations, which are then checked to see if there is a "wanted" marker on the vehicle.

Police said the arrests were for a variety of offences, including drugs, a sex offence, theft and robbery.

Supt Andy Pullan said: "ANPR is now regarded as a major tool to combat crime and help target criminals."

Four operations were mounted in various parts of the city between 28 February and 4 March.

More than 37,290 vehicles were scanned and over 2,100 instancexs where a "wanted" marker was recorded using the ANPR technology.

The markers may indicate that the vehicles were being driven without insurance, driven while the driver was disqualified; were stolen or may have been used in crime, police said.