BMF tells police: "No front plates!"

The BMF has told the police and Government it strongly opposes the re-introduction of front numberplates for bikes.

The BMF was responding to an approach by the DVLA, who are said to be involved in consultation over the move right now.

Click on the link on the right to read the BMF’s statement and to leave your comments on this story.

The plan to re-instate front plates, not seen on modern bikes for 17 years, is being led by the police, the Home Office and the Treasury in two separate projects: ” Laser ” and ” Spectrum ” .

The police and the Home Office are though to be keen on the idea of developing the Automatic Numberplate Recognition system (ANPR), a roadside camera-based system, for intelligence gathering and crime prevention and detection, such as speeding offences or vehicle excise duty or congestion charge evasion. All these applications have obvious benefits, and attractions, for the Chancellor.

ANPR is being developed by Speed Check Services, the company which has heavily invested in front-facing camera technology such as its SPECS units. A similar system Electronic Vehicle Identification Systems (EVIS) is also under consideration.

The BMF says it strongly opposes the idea of constant monitoring of all Britain’s motorists on civil rights grounds. To be effective the cameras would need to be hooked up to a multitude of Government agencies – a situation the BMF says is too ” Big Brother ” for comfort.