Police are targeting criminals before they can even get out of their cars.
Manurewa police used automatic number plate recognition technology (ANPR) to target criminals in hotspots Clendon, Homai and Wiri earlier this month resulting in eight arrests, a dozen cars being seized and 95 infringement notices being issued.
ANPR operator Wayne Scott said the system used two cameras mounted on top of a van to check the registrations of passing cars before cross referencing it with data held on the police computer.
The database, which is full of information noted by officers during their day-to-day duties, then identifies any alerts out on the vehicle or its driver.
Checkpoints were set up to stop drivers and check licences, warrants and registrations. Court bailiffs joined the sting and forced motorists with outstanding fines to pay up or lose their cars.
At least five vehicles were seized over outstanding fines. Police impounded a further seven motorists for driving while disqualified, while forbidden from doing so and for driving on suspended licences.
Six of the eight arrests were made for driving offences, the other two offenders were nabbed for outstanding warrants.
Sergeant Kim Gill said the operation, which would continue randomly in the area, aimed to slash volume crime, like burglary, car crimes and road offences by 10 to 15 per cent annually.
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