28/09/2026: BBC Breakfast and Panorama "Ghost plates are the tip of the iceberg."

Tonight's Panorama is on Ghost Plates: Drivers Cheating the Law. The integrity of vehicle registration is something most motorists never think about until it goes wrong.

The programme shines a spotlight on the growing issue of illegally supplied and misused number plates, and the wider consequences for road safety, law enforcement and public confidence.

The subject was also featured on BBC Breakfast this morning, where BNMA member Jonathan Hartley described ghost plates as "the tip of the iceberg", arguing that the root of the problem lies in regulations that have remained largely unchanged since the early 2000s. His comments highlighted concerns that weaknesses in the current framework are making it easier for criminals to exploit the system.

As the trade association representing the legitimate number plate industry, the BNMA continues to call for stronger enforcement and a review of the regulations governing plate supply to help protect motorists and support efforts to tackle crime involving vehicles.