A pioneering police operation has exposed the scale of illegal number plate use in Birmingham, with more than 4,300 instances of so-called ‘ghost plates’ detected in just two weeks.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster hailed the results of Operation Phantom, a first-of-its-kind pilot that used advanced camera technology to identify vehicles fitted with illegal 3D and 4D plates designed to evade Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems. Between them, the Redspeed ‘Sentio Ghost’ cameras flagged 4,335 offences involving 2,961 individual vehicles – all of which may have otherwise gone undetected.

Operation Phantom marks a major collaboration between West Midlands Police and technology firm Redspeed International. The initiative is designed to expose the true scale of ghost plate use, strengthen enforcement capabilities, and raise public awareness of the risks posed by these criminal enablers.

Simon Foster, 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.”

Superintendent Jack Hadley, Head of the Roads Policing Unit, described the initiative as a landmark step forward. He said: “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.”

The results from the Birmingham trial will be used to inform future enforcement strategies, support potential changes in the law, and guide wider rollout across the West Midlands. With Operation Phantom already uncovering thousands of offences in a single city, officials say the technology could prove decisive in making roads safer and ensuring criminals have nowhere to hide.

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