Drivers are being urged to secure their number plates with tamper-resistant screws after thefts more than doubled in four years, according to figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
The data, obtained by Churchill Motor Insurance, shows 7,381 incidents of stolen plates were recorded in the UK last year, up 30 per cent from 5,683 in the previous year and more than double the 3,376 thefts seen in 2021.
Number plate cloning also rose by 53 per cent over the same period, from 7,430 incidents in 2021 to 11,394 last year. Criminals steal or clone plates to accumulate traffic or parking fines sent to the original owner, or to evade police cameras and facilitate other crimes.
Kevin Mead, head of Churchill Motor Insurance, said: “It’s concerning to see that reports of stolen and cloned [number plates] are increasing so rapidly. Using tamper-resistant screws for number plates can help reduce the risk, but if a plate is stolen or suspected to be cloned, swift action is essential.”
Police forces have also noted a rise in ghost number plates, which have a reflective coating that avoids detection by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport Safety warned in December that widespread misuse of plates threatens road users and national security, with research suggesting one in 15 vehicles may carry such plates.
The British Number Plate Manufacturers Association has called for tougher regulation, warning that many suppliers are not registered with the DVLA as required by law.
