Driver caution: 61 per cent increase in planning applications to install anpr cameras in car parks

• Number of planning applications to install Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras in car parks has increased by 61 per cent in just two years
• 9.8 million drivers caught on ANPR cameras, in non-council operated car parks, issued parking fines each year
• £1.07 billion of fines were handed out after drivers were caught by ANPR parking cameras in the last 12 months alone, with £2,030 generated every minute
• One in eight fines contested after a driver was caught by an ANPR camera was overturned 

New research¹ from Churchill Car Insurance reveals an increasing trend for car park operators to install Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.  In 2019 there was a 61 per cent increase in planning applications for the installation of ANPR cameras compared to 2017, just two years earlier.  ANPR cameras can be seen as being controversial as in some cases drivers have been automatically issued fines when they did not overstay the car park’s time limit, when using the same carpark more than once in a single day, or when drivers didn’t know there was a time limit on free parking.

Between 2017 and 2019 the number of retrospective planning applications, those made after an ANPR camera had been erected, more than doubled² (106 per cent). More than a quarter (29 per cent) of all planning applications between 2017 and 2019 were retrospective.  Between 2017 and 2019 local councils rejected six per cent of retrospective planning applications for ANPR cameras.

While drivers³ have sought to challenge the legality of parking fines issued after being caught by an ANPR camera when planning permission had not been granted, the  ombudsman service, Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA), has said “The absence of planning permission would not affect the motorist’s ability to understand and keep to the parking conditions. The motorist would still have entered into a parking contract.⁴”

With such a large increase in planning applications for ANPR cameras, it is not surprising that the number of fines issued because of these cameras stands in the millions. On average there are 9.8 million parking fines⁵ handed out to motorists as a result of ANPR CCTV cameras in non-council car parks across the UK each year.  Motorists paid fees totalling £1.07 billion, with the average cost of a fine standing at £68.90. This is the equivalent of £2.9 million in fines issued every day, or £2,030 every minute.

Jane Morgan, Business Manager at Churchill Car Insurance, said: “Even car parks that appear to be free, such as supermarket and fast food restaurant car parks, increasingly have time limits for parking with ANPR cameras capturing drivers’ details - customers that stay too long are issued with large fines. 

“We are urging drivers to be cautious and to take an extra minute to check for signs displaying information about charges and timings when using any car park. It could prevent you from getting caught out and help avoid unexpected expensive fines.”

Overstaying the allotted timeslot was the most common reason Brits received ANPR based parking fines, with 3.4 million drivers (23 per cent) receiving a fine. This was followed by 2.4 million people (16 per cent) who did not realise they were required to pay for the parking and thought it was always free and 1.7 million (12 per cent) who said that they received the fine because the ANPR camera was faulty.

Table one: Top reasons people are given ANPR parking fines at private non-council owned car parks 

Source: Churchill Car Insurance 2020

Most drivers (27 per cent) that were caught out for this parking misdemeanour were at shopping centres or retail parks, with 20 per cent caught out at the supermarket and a further 20 per cent at hospitals.

When it comes to paying the fines, some are more willing to pay than others. While the majority of people, 30 per cent or 4.5 million, paid the fine straight away as they knew they were in the wrong, more than a fifth (21 per cent) contested the payment, but still had to pay.  In one in eight (13 per cent) cases when the fine was contested it was lifted.  

ENDS

Notes to Editor

1.      Freedom of information Act request issued to all UK councils on 27th January 2020. 213 councils responded and 200 councils provided useable data. Of this number, 80 councils provided data on applications for ANPR cameras

2.      Freedom of information Act request issued to all UK councils on 27th January 2020. 197 councils responded and 183 councils provided data. Of this number, 35 councils provided data on retrospective applications for ANPR cameras

3.      https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/woman-utter-bewilderment-illegal-parking-3097680

4.      https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/aldi-shoppers-outrage-being-fined-leeds-car-park-camera-without-planning-permission-181991

5.      Research conducted with Opinium among a nationally representative sample of 2,003                                                    UK adults between 3^rd and 6^th July

For further information please contact:

Emma Cava 
PR Manager (Motor)
Direct Line Group

Tel: 01651 831 715
Email: Emma.cava@directlinegroup.co.uk

Alannah Sims

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Alannah.sims@citigatedewerogerson.com

0207 025 6563

Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home, travel and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line.

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Churchill and U K Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.  

Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0300 200 300 or visiting www.churchill.com