 Trials saw six alerts a day after car number plates were checked at petrol stations |
Motorists using petrol stations are to have their number plates read and checked against the police database. A number of Bradford service stations have been fitted with the Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology.
West Yorkshire Police say it is the first time in Britain that forecourts have been used to install ANPR systems.
The registration of every vehicle will be read and if it matches a database of vehicles linked to criminal activity police will be alerted immediately.
All 53 service stations in Bradford have been invited to join the scheme and Chellow Heights Service Station and Sainsbury's at Greengates are already using the system.
 |  Potentially six drive-offs a day are being prevented  |
Chief Supt Geoff Dodd from Bradford South division said: "A large number of criminals use vehicles which they hope will not be traced back to them.
"Many of the vehicles may have stolen number-plates, or even be stolen themselves."
PC Mick Warburton, Bradford forecourt crime officer, said: "During trials that have been held the sites have been averaging six alerts a day from the police database.
"This means that potentially six drive-offs a day are being prevented.
"The results are very encouraging and all indications are that the system will lead to a vast reduction in crime."
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