Greater Manchester Police say a new automatic number-plate recognition trial has led to 22 arrests and 25 vehicle seizures in just over a week. The trial began on 19 October in the force's control room, using a dedicated channel to alert officers to vehicles identified by number-plate cameras.

Police said the control room recorded 242 number-plate activations during the first week of the operation. Officers then carried out targeted stops, which led to arrests linked to suspected Class A and Class B drug offences, with illegal substances recovered during some stops. More than £10,000 in cash believed to be linked to criminal activity was also recovered, and enquiries are continuing.

Why vehicles were seized

The 25 vehicles were seized for offences including driving without insurance, other road traffic offences, and links to wider criminal investigations. Police said the trial is designed to help officers respond more quickly when a vehicle of interest is spotted, rather than relying on chance encounters during routine patrols.

Force dispatch manager Kevin Burgess, who has worked for Greater Manchester Police for 27 years, said his team helps officers respond to incidents across the region's road network. The force said the dedicated control-room channel gives officers earlier warning about vehicles flagged by the system, allowing intercept units to be directed to the right place.

What happens next

Police have not said how long the trial will run or whether it will be extended to other parts of the force. The early results will be used to judge whether the dedicated channel improves arrest and seizure rates compared with previous ways of working. For now, the force presents the first week as a promising start, with further results expected as the trial continues.