Police trial new camera to stop car theft

An innovative camera is being tested by police in the latest attempt to clamp down on car theft.

The camera was capable of reading 50 number plates a minute and could feed the information to police databases, the Dominion Post reported today.

Police have said the technology would help them quickly track stolen cars and vehicles used in crimes.

Former police commissioner Rob Robinson - a long-time advocate of the technology - told the newspaper last year the camera was a "hugely powerful" crime-fighting tool and "not Big Brother stuff".

However, Council for Civil Liberties president Tony Ellis said he was concerned, there was the potential for misuse.

The cameras, which cost tens of thousands of dollars each, have been trialled at two Auckland motorway sites. More trials are expected in Wellington and Christchurch.

Funding was from the national land transport programme, which has provided about $1.2 million for police technology trials this financial year.

- NZPA