Two BMW’s seized ‘within 15 minutes’ of each other in Ballymena

Photo: PSNI

The PSNI’s ANPR Interceptor Team were busy on Ballymena roads yesterday (Tuesday 12 October) and ‘seized the opportunity’ when two BMW vehicles caught their attention on the Larne Road Link in the town.

Both drivers, who were stopped within minutes of each other, had no valid insurance cover and as a result were issued with tickets and had their vehicles seized.

Photo: PSNI

A police spokesperson commented:

“ANPR Interceptor Team stopped these 2 BMW’s on the same road within 15 minutes of each other on Tuesday evening in the Police Mid & East Antrim area.

“Both drivers believed they had valid insurance but both policies had lapsed.

“Vehicles seized and drivers issued tickets.”

Police launched the new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Intercept Team in September 2020, being equipped with sophisticated digital technology, to automatically detect the vehicle registrations of those committing or suspected of committing crime as they move around the Northern Ireland road network.

ANPR cameras work by automatically reading registration numbers of passing vehicles, which are instantly checked against database records of vehicles, which are suspected to be used by criminals. Police officers can use this information to intercept and stop a vehicle, check it for evidence and, where necessary and appropriate, make arrests.

The ANPR Intercept Team has been established with advanced driver officers drawn from the roads policing unit who have undergone the latest specialist tactical pursuit and containment (TPAC) tactical training.