German court rules against Garda scanners

GERMANY'S FEDERAL Constitutional Court has ruled that laws used by police to automatically scan car number plates to search for stolen vehicles violate privacy rights.

In a statement yesterday, the court says that the current rules lack "a clear definition as to when data may be collected and of the scope of data use".

The news comes as An Garda confirmed that it will shortly place a tender for 100 automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems to detect stolen, untaxed and uninsured cars. The ANPR systems can also be used for speed enforcement and will complement the eight new mobile speed detection "Gatso" vans which have been ordered by the Garda and also the privatised speed camera which was recently approved by the Cabinet.

Gardaí expect each division will be given three mobile ANPR units with a number of additional units reserved for enforcement in high activity areas.

The ANPR system uses two small in-car infrared cameras to scan the number plates of passing cars. It cross-checks these numbers against a file of stolen, missing, uninsured and untaxed vehicles, as well as those associated with persistent offending, which is downloaded daily from the Garda's Pulse database. If a number plate from this file is identified, the system alerts gardaí, who can then intercept the vehicle.

ANPR units can monitor number plates on vehicles travelling in both directions and British registration plates.

The Garda have declined to comment on the cost of the ANPR project although The Irish Times understands that individual ANPR units cost between €40,000 to €70,000.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times