Police are making increased use of number plate spotting systems

New Zealand police use of number plate spotting systems now numbers nearly 700,000 times per annum. Two years ago, the numbers were roughly 250,000. The systems are being used around 2000 times per day. Does this represent mass surveillance? A court decided not recently, according to a report by RNZ.

Evidently 8600 police officers are using the system which is run by two private companies. Ostensibly, the reason is to check on ‘suspicious’ persons. An audit suggests it is also used to investigate shop crimes and gangs. It is also helpful in identifying wanted or missing persons and for general intelligence gathering.

The systems let officers call up CCTV footage of any car stretching back up to two months, by automatically identifying its number plate.

Both systems can access live or stored camera footage, generally from store carparks or fuel station forecourts.

Usage has shot up at one of the two companies, SaferCities, almost doubling from 250,000 searches to 450,000 last year.

Police helped SaferCities construct its system 10 years ago. They also employ the services of Auror, making 250,000 searches last year.

Police headquarters performed an initial audit on automated number plate recognition (ANPR) use in 2022, and implemented extra controls thereafter to prevent its misuse. The audit gave general reassurance that the two systems are being used as intended by those in police entrusted to do so.

Two judges last year ruled ANPR did not constitute a search that required the police to seek warrants. This related to criminal cases where its use by police in evidence helped identify people who were later convicted.

The technology can be used by police to track a vehicle in real time but that happens on average less than once a day.

ANPR is an essential tool in helping achieve police outcomes, according to the audit conclusion.

SaferCities chief executive Scott Bain when asked about increased use deferred to the police. However, he also said “Our system remains safe and compliant in terms of access and use. We take this responsibility extremely seriously and have checks and balances in place to provide those assurances.”

It is thought that the SaferCities and Auror have access to thousands of cameras nationwide.

A separate audit of officers’ use of Auror is due for release soon.