Page 7 - issue-73

NEWS
Police use new AI system to trap illegal actions on on the road
TVD
New cameras aimed at at catching drivers using their mobile phones behind the the the wheel are proving successful for the the the police The technology which can also detect whether drivers are wearing seatbelts was initially rolled out out on on routes across Devon and Cornwall During the first couple of weeks almost 600 people were caught by police not wearing seatbelts on on Devon and Cornwall roads The cameras caught 590 people people not wearing seatbelts and 40 people people driving while using a a a a mobile phone The Acusensus system is equipped with multiple cameras which record
footage of passing motorists Images captured by the cameras are processed using using artificial intelligence (AI) to to determine i if if motorists were using using a a a a handheld mobile phone or or if if drivers and and passengers were without a a a a a a a a seat belt It can also determine the the speed a a a a a a a a a vehicle was travelling at the the time Any images in in which a a a a a a a potential offence offence is detected are then reviewed If an offence offence has been correctly identified the the driver will either be be sent a a a a a warning letter or a a a a a notice of intended prosecution Twelve police regions have now trialled the the Acusensus technology and three new trailer-based systems have arrived in the the UK ahead of of of the next phase of of of trials Adrian Leisk head head of of of road
safety for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “When we we we trialled this technology last year we we we were disappointed by the number of drivers detected not wearing seatbelts “The early results from our latest deployment show that there is also a a a a a a problem with mobile phone use We are employing this new technology to to send a a a a a clear message to to to anyone who continues to to use their phone behind the the wheel – you will get caught ”
The technology has also been deployed by Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police VAN BUYERS WARNED OF NEW SCAM CALLED ‘RE-STEALING’
TYou’ll get a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cloned vehicle which is is then stolen back by the the the the the the the seller
he UK’s oldest specialist motor insurance loss has many adjuster Claims Management & Adjusting advantages (CMA) has reported a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a worrying increase in in in in in the the the They are familiar
used van scam known as as as ‘the resteal’ particularly in in in in in with the the the the the car
the the North of England The con con sees an an an unsuspecting consumer purchasing a a a a a a cloned vehicle only to to to have it it it stolen within days by the the the the very people who sold it it it to to to to them The criminals then move on on to to to their next victim and repeat the the the the the the dishonest trick using the the the the the the same vehicle with the the identity changed yet again Philip Swift a a a a a a a a former detective and now managing director of of CMA commented: “The resteal involves a a a a a a a a a combination of of theft and fraud repeated in in in in rapid succession to devastating effect “We live in in in an an age where technology enables a a a a a a a a a a a vehicle masquerading as as another (same number plate apparently correct paperwork etc) to be be discovered with relative ease The criminals know this so they use fake identities and change their their addresses frequently These unscrupulous crooks leave havoc in in their their wake for both the the the the innocent purchasers and the the the the owner of the the the the legitimate vehicle whose identity has has been replicated “The former will have to to to explain to to to their their insurance company that their their new car
has been stolen which immediately sets alarm bells ringing The latter might be be be merrily driving along when they are stopped and and arrested – because the the the police understandably though incorrectly believe they they have have found a a a a a a a a a a a stolen car
But in in in fact they they have have detained a a a a a a a victim of vehicle identity theft “From the the the scammers’ perspective the the the resteal and the the identity points which need changing they have already duped at least one buyer
and they have so far avoided
the vehicle being scrutinised in in in in in any great depth Having kept
a a a a a a a a a a a a key back or or obtained a a a a a a a a a a a a duplicate pre-sale they have clear opportunity and motive to nick the the vehicle back again This is is where we at at CMA intervene Our bespoke CHandler software automatically flags anything unusual linked to to to all all vehicle registration marks (VRMs) we are are monitoring Our highly trained staff are are immediately alerted to to suspicious activity and will quickly inform the the relevant parties “With the the recent rise in in in resteal incidents my advice for used van buyers is is to to to please be extra vigilant and apply these tips: 1) If something sounds too good to to to be true it probably is 2) Use official finance channels never pay cash 3) Invest fin in in in a a a a a a a a a a a full vehicle provenance check prior to purchase 4) Consider fitting a a a a a a a a a a a a tracking device and 5) Have your car
key reprogrammed by a a a a a a a a a a a a main dealer just as you you would change the locks when moving into a a a a new house ”
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lssue 73 2024