LANCASHIRE Police are one of 23 forces to take part in the second phase of trials of a hi-tech vehicle number plate reader which helps catch more criminals.

In trials carried out in nine forces across the UK, including Lancashire, the cutting edge Automatic Number Plate Recognition system has helped police seize more than £100,000 in illegal drugs, and recover more than 300 stolen vehicles, and £715,000 in stolen goods.

More than 3,000 people have been arrested since the Home Office began the pilot scheme six months ago. The ANPR 'reads' car registration numbers and checks them against information relating to that vehicle in a series of databases.

The system can 'read' more than 1,000 vehicles an hour, identifying vehicles of interest, regardless of speed or how busy the road is.

Earlier this month a five-day joint operation with police in Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Chester, and North Wales, resulted in a total of 100,000 vehicles being stopped and 75 arrests for offences such as driving while disqualified, drink driving, drug offences, and one incident of robbery.

Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth said: "Criminals, like everyone else, need to use the roads, but in areas where ANPR technology is in operation, they are increasingly vulnerable.

"This crime-fighting technology, coupled with officers' local knowledge and experience, means vehicles are stopped in a more focused, intelligence-led way, so honest motorists are less likely to be pulled over by the police."

Chief Inspector Tracie O'Gara, Lancashire Constabulary's project manager, said: "We are very pleased to be involved in this initiative to fight crime and put highly-visible officers on the county's streets.

"It will help us in our efforts to deny criminals the use of our roads by targeting persistent offenders and bringing more cases to justice."