Police forces are now able to instantly access driving licence photos to confirm motorists’ identity at the roadside, saving time and reducing the number of arrests.
The new tech developed by the DVLA enables officers to access the organisation’s photograph database almost immediately via a handheld smart device
This compares to a wait of up to 16 minutes for officers to confirm identity without the new tech.
In some cases, it has taken so long, it has resulted in an arrest as the motorist is taken to the station to complete the checks.
The DVLA estimates the technology, which has been used in pilots by selected forces since August 2019, has saved more than 14,000 hours for Road Police Unit Officers.
It has made roadside checks up to 66 percent faster.
18 police forces are already using the tech, with 10 more in coming weeks – and the service set to roll out across all 46 police forces across the UK.
The innocents
“This development will not only free up valuable police time but also make sure innocent drivers can get back on their journeys quicker,” said roads minister Baroness Vere.
DVLA chief executive Julie Lennard said the new tech is something that will “directly benefit citizens.
“The ability to support quicker and more robust roadside checks for motoring offences through the better use of technology is something we were pleased to help deliver.”
The DVLA says photographs are accessed via sourcing the motorists’ driving licence number from the Police National Computer.
This allows them to access the correct image from DVLA records.
The police officer receives the images solely to complete the check – they are only accessible during the enquiry and are not retained.
Nearly 90,000 driver images have already been accessed by police during the trails.
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