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Written question asked by Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 January 2026. It was answered by Lilian Greenwood (Labour) on Friday, 16 January 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Vehicle Number Plates: Fraud

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will assess the potential merits of long-term reform to (a) vehicle identification systems and (b) enforcement systems in tackling number plate crime.

Answer

The Government recognises the impact of number plate fraud and is committed to addressing this issue. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime. On road enforcement remains the responsibility of the police.

The government published its new Road Safety Strategy on 7 January, setting out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department for Transport is reviewing motoring offences and has published a consultation which seeks views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect/altered/false number plate. The consultation can be found online at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-changes-to-penalties-for-motoring-offences.

Efforts are underway to strengthen application and audit processes for number plate suppliers. DVLA enforcement officers work with the police and Trading Standards to conduct compliance visits to number plate suppliers, inspecting practices and records as necessary.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
104046
Session
2024-26
Related items
Deposited Paper DEP2026-0008
Wednesday, 7 January 2026
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects
Crime Fraud Enforcement Vehicle number plates
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk