Staff issues mean ANPR cameras not used for 18 months

The cameras have been out of operation since April 2022

Camera technology used to catch untaxed Isle of Man vehicles has not been used for 18 months due to a lack of staff, the infrastructure minister has said.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) was first introduced by the Manx government in 2019.

Tim Crookall told the House of Keys a lack of resources to staff the roadside cameras meant they had not been used since April 2022.

But he said efforts were underway to restart the use of ANPR in future.

Mr Crookall told MHKs that while in use the technology had resulted in 1,246 letters being sent to the owners of untaxed vehicles, with 96% of those contacted paying their vehicle duty as a result.

The mobile camera technology, which is fixed to a tripod, had been used by Highway Services staff on public roads.

Jason Moorhouse MHK said it was "quite a concern" that the expensive equipment was "sat idle".

Mr Crookall admitted that was "unacceptable" that ANPR had not been used for such a long period, but said his department had "tried its best" to seek resources to staff the cameras.

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