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National Numbers Articles

Facebook Training for Police

October 31, 2010
Posted in Number Plates — Written by matthew.smith

Police are to be trained in the tracking of suspects via social networking sites, such as Facebook, as part of a new training initiative.

The additions to the training schedule will include how to acquire evidence from computers and mobile phones, plus taking advantage of social media websites to gather information.

According to the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), the changes are needed to adapt policing to modern day challenges.

The additions will impact approximately 3,500 students each year as they take the NPIA’s Initial Crime Investigators Development Programme.

The students will also be taught how to collect information from CCTV, National Footwear Reference Collection images, financial data such as bank statements and cash machines, and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.

Nick Gargan, deputy chief constable and chief executive of NPIA, is confident that the changes were crucial in adding modern day skills and address the “challenges and complexities of modern policing.”

“This programme is a vital part of the career pathway for detectives and the new training covers sensitive areas of policing where limited guidance existed previously,” chief constable Gargan continued.

“The changes underline the importance to having a national agency to provide guidance and train detectives to a single high standard so they can work on investigations in any part of the country and give their colleagues and the public the best quality service in fighting crime.”

Often the subject of criticism for the lack of funding towards the investigation of online fraud and technological crimes, Met Police’s Police Central e-Crime Unit can expect to see a 30% cut as a part of government attempts to slash the defecit.

There are thousands of personalised registrations that would suit you and your car perfectly.

Contact the experts at National Numbers on 01642 363738, and let their friendly staff help you every step of the way.

Australian Police Turn to Automatic Number Plate Recognition

Posted in Number Plate News — Written by matthew.smith

Police in Australia are delighted with the impact of new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, following the capture of 144 unregistered and unlicensed drivers.

Based in the New South Wales area of Australia, police in Wollongong and Lake Illawarra were each given a new patrol car fitted with the latest in ANPR technology.

ANPR looks set to revolutionise policing in the area, after figures show that double the amount of cars are being detected each month.

Sergeant Stewart Arnold revealed: ”That’s a trend we’re going to see a lot more.

“This new car has three cameras on the roof and each camera can detect six registrations a second; as you’re going along it’s just checking so many cars, it’s incredible.

“On its first day out on the road we got 22 unregistered cars.”

The ANPR set up consists of cameras pointing in different directions, allowing for cars ahead, behind and parked on the roadside to be checked automatically and simultaneously.

It doesn’t just check for unlicensed and unregistered cars; information about whether the vehicle is stolen or involved in crime is also displayed.

“We’ll be driving along and then suddenly an alarm will go off and an image of the car comes up on the screen,” Sgt Arnold continued.

“I can approach a driver with all that knowledge in my head, I’m not going in blind,” revealed Senior Constable John Carr.

“This gives you a higher level of safety - the more knowledge you have when you approach a car the better.”

There are thousands of fantastic number plates available to UK drivers.

All you have to do is contact the experts at National Numbers, discuss what kind of personalised registration you want with the friendly advisers, and get number plate that says something about you.

Council to Sell its £7K Number Plate

Posted in Number Plate News — Written by matthew.smith

Taxpayers have won their battle with West Lothian Council, after the local authority decided to sell its £7000 private registration number plate.

Burdened with debt of over £9 billion, the local council believes that the move will send out a positive message to both staff and the community.

Peter Jonston, the council leader, believes that keeping the ASX1 number plate isn’t a priority at this stage in time.

Mr Johnston revealed: “We’ve said from the beginning that no stone can be left unturned in our quest to find vital savings in the face of a £60 million budget shortfall.

“Councillors must lead by example and we will be moving to approve these changes at the council executive in early November.”

West Lothian council may be in the minority when it comes to sacrificing the personalised number plates to generate funds.

Several other Scottish councils own some of the most valuable UK number plates ever issued, yet have no intention of selling them to raise funds.

Edinburgh Council owns a number plate which is valued between £100,000 and £500,000 and Glasgow City Council owns two registrations, valued at up to £500,000 each.

John Hulbert of Perth and Kinross Council has the number plate ES 1 on his car, which is valued at £150,000.

The decision by West Lothian Council to cash in on the luxurious number plate is being welcomed by many who seek lower public sector waste.

Emma Boon of the Taxpayers Alliance believes other councils should follow suit.

She said: “While it’s great that West Lothian are selling their number plate and getting rid of their civic car, it’s disappointing that other Scottish councils are yet to follow suit.

“In these tough financial conditions councils must find significant savings.

“It would be unfair to expect taxpayers to continue to fund a civic car and it’s disgraceful for councils to cling on to these luxuries at a time when taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet.”

To get a unique, personalised number plate at a great price, just call the expert advisers at National Numbers on 01642 363738.

Have Android? Try our Free Number Plate Search App!

October 27, 2010
Posted in Android Search App, Number Plates — Written by Helen

Do you have an Android Smartphone? We have done it yet again with another first in the number plate industry - a number plate search app for Android Smartphones.

You can download it completely free of charge from the Android Market. Just search for ‘number plates’.

Just like our iPhone number plate search app and Facebook number plate search app, the new Android app allows you to search for your ideal number plate any time and any place. It’s a fun and fast way to find personalised registrations on the move.

Eric Craggs, Chairman of National Numbers said, “We have always strived to make our vast database available to everyone, wherever they are. Launching a new app to cater for Android users is a new way to bring number plates to the most popular mobile devices”.

Just like our other apps, the new Android app makes use of National Numbers massive database of over 30 million personalised registrations, and is updated in real time to ensure the freshest registrations are available.

You can literally search for anything: your name, initials, or any number can be searched for; with a search taking less than five seconds. You can also browse up to 30 categories of number plates, such as Cheap, Funny, Car, Football, Irish, and Rude; with number plates available from 1903 through to the present day.

How it Works

  • Tap on the number plate to start a new search
  • You can enter anything: your name, initials, car, pet, etc
  • Or choose a category for some fantastic suggestions
  • A list of suggested number plates will be displayed along with prices
  • Choose a number plate to view or enquire
  • Don’t forget you can tap ‘Call Us’ at any time to speak to a friendly sales advisor

How to Download the App
Visit the Android Market on your phone and search for ‘number plates’, or see our Android App page.

Searching for number plates on the Android app

Thousands of DVLA Jobs at Risk

October 23, 2010
Posted in DVLA — Written by matthew.smith

Cuts being made in the public sector are set to put thousands of jobs under threat at the DVLA.

Swansea is a city that heavily relies on the employment generated by the public sector.

Not only the DVLA, but the Department for Work and Pensions, Revenue and Customs, universities, schools, colleges and hospitals are collectively responsible for 40,000 jobs.

The DVLA head offices are based in the city and employs 4,500.

Roger Langley at the Public and Commercial Services union is deeply concerned about the outlook.

“There’s a real fear, everyone knows someone who works in the public sector and when the cuts come they’re going to be deep,” he said.

“Behind us is Morriston and the DVLA, that employs 4,500. We’ve got Swansea University, Singleton Hospital, County Hall, over to the Enterprise Park we’ve got the Land Registry that employs more than 450 staff. The DWP has got more than 600 staff, and, with the local authority, it’s a big area of public sector workers.”

Cathy Crosby, an occupational therapist believes that people are very concerned about the prospect of losing their jobs.

“People are extremely worried, it’s very uncertain,” she revealed.

“People aren’t being replaced when they’re going on maternity leave or leaving because they’re stressed.”

The DVLA have booked their Christmas Party at the Ice House bar, and owner Chris Elliot believes they will still be attending.

“To be honest we’re going to carry on doing what we’re doing,” he said.

“We are mindful of the fact that these things are going to happen but the way we’re running at the moment, we’ve just got to think smart and work hard.

“I think people need a break from the worry of what’s going on, we’ve got comedy nights and bands booked.”

Staff at the DVLA may have to wait months to find out if their jobs are safe, when the Welsh budget is set out by the government.

National Numbers have over 10 years experience in getting people the perfect number plate.

To get a personalised registration at a price you will be delighted with, just call the experts at National Numbers, on 01642 363738.

Nottinghamshire Number Plate Thefts on the Rise

Posted in Number Plate News — Written by matthew.smith

Thefts of number plates in the Nottingham and South Nottinghamshire area are on the increase, according to recent figures.

So far this year, there have been over 500 incidents according to crime prevention officer, Robert Vaughn-Newton, with 21 occurrences between October 1 and October 14.

In response, officer Vaughn-Newton has sent 1,500 emails about the current status of crime to members of the Neighbourhood Alert system.

“The thefts are up a little on last year,” he revealed.

“They are all over, perhaps a bit more on the west of the city in Beechdale, Wollaton and Bilborough. There’s also been three this month in West Bridgford.

“It’s very inconvenient owners have to find their vehicle’s V5 document to get replacement plates.

“If you have not reported it, you may get a police officer knocking on your door.”

Officer Vaughn-Newton put his concern across in his email: ”Thieves usually steal such plates to disguise similar vehicles they intend to use in other crimes such as theft of fuel from filling stations by driving off without paying, theft from other vehicles and burglary.

“Number plates are usually screwed to the vehicle. It is possible to buy clutch head screws which can be tightened with a normal screwdriver but cannot be loosened. A thief would have to break the plate to take it from a vehicle, which would make it useless.”

Number Plate thefts are aren’t just a problem in the Nottinghamshire area, but a national problem too.

“In the London area, people steal them to get away without paying the congestion charge,” officer Vaughn-Newton concluded.

To get a great number plate that you can be proud of, just call the experts at National Numbers on 01642 363738.

National Numbers have over 10 years experience in getting people the personalised registration number they want.

Used Car Buyers Warned of ‘Stolen Form’ Con

October 22, 2010
Posted in DVLA — Written by matthew.smith

Those who are considering buying a second-hand car need to be very careful, as a spate of incidents involving stolen vehicles and forged log-books have occurred.

Thousands of blank DVLA log books were stolen in 2006, with the intention of selling the vehicles on as cloned cars.

David Bloor is just one of the victims in the nationwide scam.

After paying £16,500 for a used Volkswagen Tiguan, Mr Bloor revealed that he was shown what appeared to be an authentic log book, complete with watermarks.

Even the vehicle data checks he made passed with flying colours, but when trying to register the vehicle with the DVLA in the following weeks, he received a visit from police officers.

Police advised David that his car had been cloned and there was no way of reclaiming the money he lost.

Mr Bloor blames the DVLA for the money he has lost.

“They need to be brought to task over this,” he revealed.

“To wash their hands of it and do nothing is absolutely appalling.”

Peter Swift, insurance investigator at Claims Management & Adjusting Ltd, is concerned at the rise of similar incidences.

“I don’t accept that drip feeding the new forms into the system is going to have much effect on the crime,” he said.

“It again appears to be more about saving money than protecting the public because the DVLA have clearly accepted that their stolen registration documents have a value, are being used by criminals, and that the integrity of their document is undermined.

“Why, then, do they permit these documents to remain in circulation, to continue to have a value, and to be an ongoing problem for members of the public?”

The DVLA have provided advice on their website for anyone who is concerned about purchasing a second hand vehicle.

Corporate affairs director at the DVLA, David Evans has revealed that there are several important checks that need to be made.

“The clear message to anyone considering buying a second-hand vehicle is that a registration certificate is not proof of ownership and is one piece of a complicated jigsaw,” he announced.

“We recommend that buyers ask to see proof of ownership of a vehicle, such as a bill of sale, before handing over any money.”

To get a personalised number plate that says something about you, just call the industry experts at National Numbers, on 01642 363738.

Expat Forces DVLA to Re-Evaluate Policy

October 13, 2010
Posted in Number Plate News — Written by matthew.smith

A British expatriate has spoken of his disbelief at the unfair treatment he received from the DVLA.

Peter West lives in Spain in the winter and France in the summer, but paid a 3 week visit to England in 2008 and returned to England for the birth of his grandchild in February 2009.

However, upon his return, his car was impounded when his foreign registered vehicle was seen to have exceeded the six-month-in-twelve rule.

In total, Mr West’s car had only been in England for nine weeks within the year and was fully-taxed and insured.

Police have stated that according to European directive 83/182/EEC, “once a vehicle enters the country, a six month clock starts, with no breaks, even if the vehicle returns to its country of origin.”

Mr West is being supported in his plight by the European Commission and UK authorities have given new guidelines to police forces and the DVLA.

After refusing to pay the £420 fine and several days of complaining later, Mr West had his car returned.

“I found out that other visitors from Europe, who had a limited understanding of English, had been caught in this trap. I therefore decided that I needed to follow this up to prevent other innocent expatriates and European visitors from being caught in what seemed to be a scam,” Mr West stated.

He continued: “This has been very difficult for me.

“Watching your car being loaded onto a pick-up truck by a policeman is a traumatic experience. I have not driven back since my car was taken, which means I have spent much less time with my family than I would have liked.

“There is too much bullying of ordinary people by U.K. government departments, including the police, who think they are above the Law. On this occasion I am happy that I have been able to strike a blow for the man in the street and, especially, for law-abiding expatriates who want to visit their families a couple of times a year.

” All that remains is for the Northamptonshire Police and the DVLA to apologise. But I shall not be holding my breath !”

There are thousands of number plates available and finding the personalised registration that’s perfectly suited to you can be difficult.

That’s why the experts at National Numbers are here to help.

National Numbers have devoted over ten years to get people the number plate they want and can even bid on your behalf at the next DVLA auction at Ardencote Manor Hotel and Country Club, Claverdon, Warwick, on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd December 2010.

Just call 01642 363738 and let National Numbers help you to get the number plate you want.

Thousands Owed by Foreign Drivers

Posted in Number Plate News — Written by matthew.smith

Glasgow City Council has revealed that over the past three years, £130,000 in parking fines remains unpaid by foreign vehicles.

For the years 2007/08, £21,180 is owed; 2008/09, £25,200 is owed; and 2009/10, £92,340 remains unpaid.

The problem isn’t restricted to Glasgow, either.

Edinburgh City Council revealed that in 2009/10 it had to write off £211,051 in unpaid parking tickets after the vehicles at fault couldn’t be traced.

A spokesperson at Glasgow City Council revealed: “Like any other authority, when a penalty notice is not paid, our main method of tracing the registered keeper of the vehicle is through the DVLA database.

“Clearly, though, the DVLA does not hold information on vehicles registered overseas, so that option is not available to us in these cases. We will, however, still pursue outstanding penalties through different channels wherever we can.

“For example, if we become aware of an overseas-registered vehicle with outstanding penalty notices against it, we may impound the vehicle as a means of obtaining the details we need to recover the money.

“As such, this figure is not final – we will continue to pursue recovery wherever we can.”

A spokesperson at Dundee City Council announced: “The British Parking Association, of which Dundee City Council is a member, is lobbying the UK Government to facilitate inter-border co-operation on this issue.”

For 2008/09, £13,500 is still owed to Aberdeen City Council in unpaid fines, with a spokesperson announcing:  “We do issue penalty charge notices (PCN) to foreign vehicles.

“Anyone with a vehicle with a foreign registration is required to register the vehicle after one year if the vehicle remains in the UK. Because of this, any PCNs issued to foreign vehicles are progressed to full charge and an inquiry is sent to DVLA.

“If the DVLA has no record of the vehicle owner, the PCN will be cancelled as any other at that stage.

“We do not keep separate records for foreign vehicles.”

Get a number plate you can be proud of, by calling the experts at National Numbers on 01642 363738.

Motorist’s Number Plates ‘Invisible’ to Speed Cameras

Posted in Number Plates — Written by matthew.smith

A UK motorist has been charged and convicted of using number plates which were undetectable by speed cameras.

John Massaro, 55, of Westhoughton near Bolton, had the number plates fixed on his Jaguar car when he was stopped by police.

Speaking in front of Bolton Magistrates Court, Massaro declared that he was unaware he was breaking the law by using the plates.

The number plates at fault are specially designed to evade detection by speed cameras.

Massaro was originally stopped by a traffic police officer and given a fixed penalty notice of £60, but feeling hard done by, he contested the fine and took it to court.

Just prior to the court case beginning, Massaro changed his plea to guilty, but criticised the manner in which the penalty was issued, suggesting that he should have been given a warning and sufficient time to replace the number plates.

The court heard that Massaro had personalised registrations with raised lettering, which prevents detection by speed cameras.

Glenn Anderton, prosecuting in the case, revealed: “These are the carbon graphite type of plates.

“The difficulty is if someone is driving at night and a camera goes off, they are difficult to read.”

Mussaro protested the accusation, claiming that when he bought the number plates, he was completely unaware that they were illegal and felt as though he should have been given time to rectify the problem.

“I had a son doing a turn in Afghanistan at the time. My son’s out there and I am being treated like this for something so trivial,” he complained.

Mussaro was fined £35 and £35 in prosecution costs, plus a £15 victim surcharge.

To get a personalised registration of your own, talk to the experts at National Numbers, on 01642 363738.

National Numbers have been helping people to get the number plate they want for over ten years.