Just one camera in the city centre generated more than £100,000 in fines
An ANPR camera on St Anne Street in Liverpool(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A single traffic enforcement site in Liverpool brought in almost £27,000 in fines in just one month, according to figures obtained in a freedom of information request.
Automatic number plate recognition cameras (ANPRs) were installed across the city last year following enforcement powers being granted by the Department of Transport to tackle unlawful and dangerous driving.
The offences covered by the ANPRs include making banned turns, violating a no-entry sign, or stopping in a yellow box junction. If caught, drivers can face a fine of up to £70.
Two cameras monitoring St Anne Street, outside the fire station, issued 698 penalty charge notices (PCNs) in November 2024 alone, bringing in £26,990.
Over the six months from September 2024 to February 2025, this one spot generated over £100,000 in fines, making it by far Liverpool’s most lucrative traffic enforcement point.
However, the figures suggest enforcement at this hotspot is having a noticeable effect. By February, the number of fines issued had dropped to 194, a fall of 72% from November’s peak.
Liverpool City Council said the reduction is a sign of the “effectiveness of the cameras”, especially in such congested areas.
Other sites across the city, including Ranelagh Street, Whitechapel/Crosshall Street, and New Quay/Chapel Street, issued far fewer fines over the same period. For instance, New Quay/Chapel Street issued just 82 PCNs between September and February, raising just over £2,700.
The council told the ECHO any surplus from PCNs is strictly ring-fenced by law, as funds generated must legally be spent on transport-related improvements, including highway maintenance, public transport enhancements, and environmental projects. A 2023 Cabinet report recommended prioritising surplus revenue for these measures.
The council also confirmed it is continuing to identify new locations for camera enforcement, with a focus on areas where cameras are expected to reduce offences.
These include yellow box junctions, banned turns, future bus lanes, and School Streets, of which it aims to set up 50 in the coming years.