Transparency data

ANPR IAG Minutes 21 March 2022 (accessible)

Published 8 April 2022

Date: 21 March 2022

Time: 10:00-12:00

Location: Virtual

Attendees:

Fraser Sampson (FS) (Chair) - Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner
Charlie Hall (CH) - Chief Constable, NPCC ANPR Lead Hertfordshire Police
Hannah Hall (HH) - Strategic Capability Manager, NPCC ANPR Portfolio
Bill Mandeville (BM) - Home Office
William Perrin (WP) - Talk About Local
Sam Smith (SSm) - Med Confidential
Katie Scotton (KS) - Head of Policy, Office of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner (OBSCC)
Lillie-Mae Firmin (LMF) - Policy Officer, Office of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner (OBSCC)
Olivia Cullen (OC) - Project and Support Officer, Office of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner (OBSCC)
Jason Donovan (JD) - DVLA
Jamie Hassall (JH) - Highways England
Caroline Clooney (CC) - MPS
Sarah Steadman (SSt) - DVLA
Jessica Williams (JW) - DVLA
Kevin Sharp (KH) - Bedfordshire Police

Apologies received from Lorna Woods.

Agenda Items

1. 10:00-10:05: Welcome & Introductions - FS

2. 10:05-10:20: Actions from previous meeting - FS

3. 10:20-10:35: Core membership of ANPR IAG discussion - FS

4. 10:35-10:45: Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner Update - FS

5. 10:45-10:55: CC Hall general update on NPCC matters - CH

6. 10:55-11:15: A summary of the recent reports into ANPR - HH

7. 11:15-11:35: DVLA update on the progression of recommendations made to reduce non-compliant number plates - SSt

8. 11:35-11:45: Proposed attendance of a victim of crime who has been aided by ANPR - FS / HH

9. 11:45-12:00: AOB - FS

Key actions arising

IAG0322-01: To liaise with the new Information Commissioner on New Zealand’s use of ANPR systems - FS

IAG0322-02: Continue liaising with HO colleagues on ANPR misreads and feed back to the group - FS/OBSCC

IAG0322-03: Speak with LGA on updated adoption of the code and feed back to group - KS

IAG0322-04: Email the group to reflect on comments on core membership - OBSCC

IAG0322-05: Enquires re risk assessment of Hikvision’s systems - OBSCC

IAG0322-06: Contact the Victim Crime Commissioner regarding a victim of crime - OBSCC

IAG0322-07: Update the group re. published summary of the Mackey Review - CH/HH

IAG0322-08: Update the group on the progress of the Number Plate Working Group - JD/JW/SSt

Minutes

10:00-10:05: Welcome and introductions

FS welcomed the group and commences introductions. No AOB was raised.

10:05-10:20: Actions from previous meeting

FS confirmed that actions from the previous meeting allocated to OBSCC have been completed.

CH updated on ANPR misreads, outlining the work of a ministerial group working to reduce misreads and what the government, as well as DSTL, can do to assist with this.

BM questioned if the use of ANPR by private organisations is something the ICO should be monitoring, to mitigate the public losing faith in the police use of the systems due to lack of oversight by private organisations. BM also highlighted that most misreads are caused by the number plate itself, not the ANPR camera that captures it. BM also informed the group he recently received an email from police in New Zealand asking for advice on ANPR misreads, highlighting how other countries view the UK’s ANPR system as good. This indicates more attention should be placed on the compliance of license plates and not the ANPR system.

FS volunteered to raise this the above email with the new Information Commissioner.

(ACTION IAG0322-01: FS to liaise with ICO regarding New Zealand’s use of ANPR systems).

FS confirmed that he is still liaising with Home Office colleagues on the topic of number plate misreads.

(ACTION IAG0322-02: FS/KS to liaise with HO colleagues regarding number plate misreads and report back to the IAG)

CH and HH updated on the question regarding ANPR searches which do not return data and outline that officers search against a specific policing purpose within a defined date range, within the retention period. If data is deemed as important for ongoing enquiries it can be retained, with the appropriate justification ensuring both the need and proportionality of retention.

FS updated on his action regarding the evidential use of ANPR data and will report back to the IAG next time.

CH and HH updated on the ANPR national engagement survey, which was completed last year and confirmed they will look to re-run the survey in 2023,

KS updated on the engagement with local councils. KS outlined this is still outstanding, and that the OBSCC wrote to all councils in 2019 to remind them of their duties to adhere to the SC Code. KS explained that the OBSCC are not aware of any responses back to this.

(ACTION IAG0322-03: KS to liaise with the LGA on the adoption of the SC Code following its revision)

To note: Action IAG0721-13 was not updated due to time restrictions and an update will be circulated in due course.

10:20-10:30: Core membership

JH suggested a representative from a local authority, as they operate most ANPR cameras across the country. CH highlighted the importance of ensuring the group do not to lose focus of its core purposes, which is the use of ANPR for law enforcement purposes and opposed inviting private companies into the IAG. BM agreed that the group mainly focuses on law enforcement use of ANPR, and thus suggested a representative from either the DVLA or the Department for Transport (DFT).

(ACTION IAG0322-04: OBSCC to collate suggestions and feedback)

10:30-11:00: Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner update

FS updated the group on OSBCC work, including public consultations, communication with surveillance system company Hikvision, staff changes, and notable events including Facial Recognition on Trial 14th June 2022.

WP asked if a risk assessment has been done of any Hikvision systems, adding that a lack of parliamentary scrutiny around this matter is concerning.

(ACTION IAG0322-05: OBSCC to enquire regarding a risk assessment of Hikvision systems)

SSm added that organisations may choose the cheapest ANPR system available, but that this is not a solution when the ANPR system will be used in critical national infrastructure.

FS agreed, informing the group he has previously challenged local authorities on this and that the police should utilize technology available to them without jeapordising public confidence.

10:45-11:00: Proposed attendance of a victim of crime who has been aided by ANPR

CH welcomed suggestions. HH suggested contacting the Victim’s Commissioner for advice. SSm emphasised that the individual should be a victim of crime and not a representative from an organisation that aids victims of crimes.

(ACTION IAG0322-06: OBSCC to contact the Victim’s Commissioner)

11:00-11:45: Charlie Hall gave a general update on NPCC matters, followed by a summary by Hannah Hall of the recent reviews into ANPR.

CH and HH delivered a presentation to the group. To note:

• NAS R1.0 up is now running, giving police forces immediate access to the national data set. This does not however have all the capabilities that legacy systems do.
• There is a new national qualification in ANPR developed for intelligence practitioners.
• The last public engagement survey conducted was responded to by 92,000 members of the public.
• An internal review of capability has been completed, by Sir Craig Mackey.

WP asked if the Mackey Report will be published in the public domain.

CH updated that the review was internal, looking at development of capability, rather than a public review of law enforcement use of ANPR.

SSm added that if the report is confidential, an executive report written for the purpose of being in the public domain needs to be produced.

(ACTION IAG0322-07: HH and CH to update the group re. publishing an Executive Summary of the Mackey Report)

HH provided a comprehensive overview on improvements to the standards and governance since the 2013 review into police use of ANPR.

BM responded to the presentation that in the absence of statutory guidance, NASPLE can help forces comply with standards and best practice of the data they retain.

WP added NASPLE is a good thing, and police forces have improved greatly, however they need to do more statistical professional market research so that these public engagement surveys are more comprehensive rather than an ‘opt in’ exercise. HH informed that the survey was comprehensive having been completed by 92,000 members of the public. Improvements to the survey methodology will be considered when it is re-run, in consultation with stakeholders, however employing a professional market research company may be cost prohibitive.

11:45-12:00: DVLA update on the progression of recommendations made to reduce non-compliant number plates

FS welcomes SSt and JD for final agenda item. JD, JW and SSt delivered a presentation on reducing non-compliant number plates.

To note:

• There has been little progression from the number plate working group that began in July 2020 until now due to other priorities taking over.
• There are nine recommendations, both short term and long term aims. Short term aims (12-18 months) include focusing on more strategic communication, better compliance and working together.
• The main issue they face is the volume of work and a need for change within the law – an extremely slow process.

(ACTION IAG0322-08: JD, JW and SSt to update the group on the progress of the number plate working group)

12:00: Closing remarks

FS closed by thanking the group for their attendance.