IOPC learning recommendation- update anpr training package to include info about faults IX-637619

IOPC learning recommendation made under paragraph 28A of schedule 3 to the Police Reform Act 2002.

Our reference: IX/6376/19

Author: Prevention and Learning Team, Directorate of Professional Standards

Case summary

In November 2019, two police officers were in an unmarked police car when they noticed a car entering a roundabout without taking notice of other vehicles. They activated sirens and commenced a pursuit. On the exit of a roundabout the car undertook a van. The driver of the van became aware of police presence behind him and manoeuvred to his left to make way for them to pass. Subsequently the car and the van collided. The car mounted the side of the road and hit a member of public who received life threatening injuries.

IOPC recommendation

The IOPC recommends that the Metropolitan Police Service update their Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) training package to include information about the fault caused when the internal battery fails on the cleartone system. The training should ensure officers are able to recognise when the system is faulty and make it clear that this fault results in a failure to record footage in a retrievable way.

This follows an IOPC investigation where the IOPC was unable to retrieve vital footage from the Cleartone unit in the police vehicle. A battery fault in the unit prevented the date and time from being recorded correctly. This meant that the footage was not retrievable for considerable time in spite of the efforts of the MPS and the manufacturer. In the MPS, officers have a duty to report such faults to their supervisor but the IOPC found that the relevant training package contained no reference to battery failures or the fact that such failures render the footage irretrievable. Officers are therefore unaware that such a fault exists and cannot report it.

MPS response

The MPS has reviewed and accepts the recommendation provided by the IOPC in relation to updating the ANPR training package as described. The current training package on the use of the Cleartone ANPR system is dated and is in the process of being reviewed to reflect the changes needed.

The MPS Intelligence Unit (MO2) has engaged with the MPS Learning and Development Unit responsible for updating the Cleartone National Centre for Applied Learning Technologies (NCALT) package, and ensured that a suitable warning will be incorporated into the new package when it is delivered this year. In the interim, MO2 Central ANPR Team has implemented a warning that has been added to the introduction of the training presentation, highlighting the issue and providing the user with instructions if the fault is identified.

This reads as follows: During a recent IOPC Investigation it has been noted that there are sometimes issues where the battery fails within the system and therefore does not record the correct date and time. The date and time are visible on the unit in the top left corner and can also be viewed and