[discretion22]

You are correct that stolen vehicles go onto the priority list to help recover them and most people, especially if your vehicle is one recovered relativity undamaged as a result, are completely OK with that part. If it's wrecked, you're going to be less happy.

However, the UK has an extensive police ANPR network throughout the country (at least 13k cameras) and these, like all policing databases, operate under the blanket exemption in data protection laws for "policing purposes"[0]. There are regulations surrounding these systems, but they do not stop the dragnet surveillance enabled by ANPR.

Every vehicle passing is recorded (55 million records added per DAY) and stored for a minimum of 1 year[1].

[0] https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protectio...

[1] https://www.npcc.police.uk/FreedomofInformation/ANPR.aspx

[Gordonjcp]

Yeah, that part doesn't actually work at the moment. Capita haven't received a big enough bung.