Scrubbing out car registration numbers

MA

Markymark 4 January 2020 4:54pm

Of course, there is also the matter of number plate cloning, which is why you'll see crash damaged vehicles being transported around with all or part of the number plates obscured with gaffa tape

I think it’s also to prevent the crashed vehicles being picked up wrongly by ANPR systems during transit.

It's out of respect to the victims and reduce stress of relatives until they have been contacted.

Ok, thanks. So why in this weeks' case did both BBC and ITN fail to scrub out the number plate for 24 hours ?
Simply a double cock up ?

FB

Fluffy Bunny Feet 4 January 2020 9:29pm

Markymark posted:

Fluffy Bunny Feet posted:

Spencer posted:

I think it’s also to prevent the crashed vehicles being picked up wrongly by ANPR systems during transit.

It's out of respect to the victims and reduce stress of relatives until they have been contacted.

Ok, thanks. So why in this weeks' case did both BBC and ITN fail to scrub out the number plate for 24 hours ?
Simply a double cock up ?

They often take police advice and maybe it was considered a regional / local story until the fatality numbers where known. Callous I know, fatal road accidents happen all the time but singular deaths are not reported nationally unless there's a possible criminal action. Often stuff is shot by regional newsrooms then requested a national level for broadcast, it really depends on if it's a 'slow' news day too.

WO

Worzel 5 January 2020 4:43am

As someone who did serve as a Police officer for a little while I maybe able to help clear this up. If the vehicle(s) are involved in a fatal crash the number plates *should* be blurred out as it'll technically be treated as a crime scene/criminal investigation until the cause of the RTC and subsequent death has been identified. It's basically to prevent any issues should a court case materialise. When the court case is over, the number plates will usually be unblurred.

The same rules apply if a driver was arrested and caught on camera at the time. Because they haven't been charged/haven't appeared in court, they're entitled to their anonymity until they're found guilty or aquitted. Once again, to protect any subsequent court case or legal issues.

Last edited by Worzel on 5 January 2020 4:49am

(January 2020)