All Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) patrol vehicles in the northeast region now have Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) and In-Car-Camera systems.
It’s thanks to government investments in the OPP and municipal police services in the province.
The OPP says the initiative supports the force’s commitment to increasing transparency and accountability in the policing of communities, and to leverage technologies that will enhance community and officer safety.
According to police, the technology will be used to gather enhanced evidence involving offences and will also highlight the professionalism of their members.
“In addition to the benefits that will come with having an objective video recording of an interaction between an officer and member of the public, the integrated ALPR functionality will dramatically enhance the ability of an officer to detect licence plates that are linked with criminal or traffic offences,” states a release.
Examples would include plates associated with wanted or missing people, stolen vehicles, stolen or unattached licences plates, suspended and prohibited drivers and with other emergencies like Amber Alerts.