The Benefits of ANPR Vehicle Registration Cameras for Business Security

Advances in video technology are bringing a huge number of benefits to a range of industries and sectors. First introduced in the 1980s to help police in traffic management, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) has also become increasingly important in the field of commercial security and is one of a range of state-of-the-art systems now available from Scutum London.

This article will examine what ANPR is, how it works and how it can play a vital role in your business’ security measures.  

What are ANPR vehicle registration cameras and how do they work?

ANPR cameras are located at key points where it might be necessary to identify an individual vehicle. They are equipped with sensors to detect when a vehicle passes their location, which triggers the camera to record an image of the vehicle’s number plate.

This image is then converted into machine-encoded text called optical character recognition, which basically allows the system to ‘read’ the number plate in the image. 

That number plate can then be cross-referenced with a database to identify the vehicle in question: for the police that can mean tracing the driver of a vehicle that has perhaps broken the speed limit; for car park owners, it could mean recording how long a car has been parked to enable automatic charging; for your business, that could mean significant benefits for your security.

Don’t forget that if you are planning on installing any kind of camera system as part of your business security measures, you need to be aware of data protection regulations and CCTV use.

How can ANPR vehicle registration cameras benefit business security?

Fast and effective access control 

By ensuring the number plates of staff and regular visitors are stored on a company database, access to your site can be managed automatically to allow seamless entry and egress for all authorised persons. If you are expecting a delivery, ask your supplier to provide their vehicle’s number plates so that they can also be allowed immediate entry without the need for checking credentials. Meanwhile, unauthorised vehicles will be barred from accessing your premises until their credentials can be verified.

Crime prevention and detection

Like any CCTV system, just the presence of ANPR cameras is going to deter potential thieves and criminals, while if something does happen you could have evidence to aid detection and prosecution.

Speed monitoring

Catching speeding motorists isn’t necessarily just for the police. Using ANPR cameras to control vehicle speeds on your site can make it safer for staff and other people on foot and reduce the risk of costly accidents.

Saves on staffing costs

Keeping entry points at your premises permanently staffed, so that everyone coming and going can be monitored and authorised, could be an expensive and time-consuming business. Where a number plate is recognised by ANPR, the vehicle in question can be admitted automatically, meaning that you only need staff to intervene when an unknown vehicle approaches, freeing them up for other duties and tasks.

Scutum London provides an extensive range of commercial security solutions for businesses in and around London, Surrey and the rest of the South East. We can design and install a bespoke security system individually tailored to your premises and commercial needs, including modern surveillance cameras, access control and intruder alarms.

Contact us now to find out more.