Police cars in NSW are getting smarter

Criminals be warned - our police cars are getting smarter.

It's now easier for police on the NSW Central Coast to detect unregistered vehicles thanks to new smart technology.

Brisbane Water and Tuggerah Lakes Local Area Commands have fitted mobile Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology to special patrol cars.

This is the first time the gadgets have been installed in general duties police vehicles

The devices feature four 360-degree cameras mounted on the car that scan number plates at a rate of six per second. The information is immediately cross-checked on the police database.

The cameras are part of a $7 million rollout across NSW. While the technology has been in use by Highway Patrol cars, this is the first time the gadgets have been installed in general duties police vehicles.

"To have this amazing piece of technology which has already proven its worth lets us go one step further in hunting down people who are doing the wrong thing," Brisbane Water LAC Commander Superintendent Daniel Sullivan said.

Supt Sullivan said a high number of people in crashes did not have a licence. He said the devices would help take them off the road.

Tuggerah Lakes Duty Officer Inspector Col Lott said the device went "one step further".

"While originally developed to recognise unregistered vehicles, this goes further in helping detect wanted offenders and stolen vehicles," Insp Lott said.

Each police command currently has a patrol car fitted with the ANPR technology.

TECH SAVVY COPS

Brisbane Water LAC officers are no strangers to hi-tech policing. The command was one of four across the state chosen to trial body worn video (BWV) cameras for frontline police officers recently. The cameras look set to be rolled out statewide in the next couple of months.

"This is a fantastic bit of gear and here at Brisbane Water we jumped at the chance of trying it out," Superintendent Daniel Sullivan said.