New rules ahead on number plate records

Friday 29 January 2010

New rules are being introduced to allow police to keep photographs of car number plates for up to 10 days to enable them to track criminals, the Telegraaf reports on Friday.

Justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin and home affairs minister Guusje ter Horst said on Thursday they are working on the plans following criticism of current practises by the privacy regulator.

Several police forces are breaking privacy laws by keeping lists of car number plates using certain roads for longer than permitted, the CBP watchdog said on Thursday.

Police are allowed to use automatic recognition systems to spot car number plates which match people with criminal connections. But they are supposed to destroy details of the rest. However, the police in both the Rotterdam and IJsselland regions keep a list of all cars using certain roads for up to three months, the watchdog said.

The new rules will give police more time to match wanted criminals to number plates and track escape vehicles, the Telegraaf said.

© DutchNews.nl

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