Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: torte on September 10, 2025, 03:49:34 pm
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It's proving difficult to obtain a Crime Reference Number. As the Met police suggests, I reported the cloned number plate online (https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rs/road-safety/automatic-number-plate-recognition-anpr/). On the website I was advised I would get a crime reference number after 24 hours. In an automated submission confirmation email I was advised I would get a crime reference number after 48 hours. Both has passed and I have not received a crime reference number. I will wait until Monday and then send a complaint to the police.
I found Islington's view PCN page and found the option to challenge PCNs. I have not done that yet, because I believe I should wait for a crime reference number before doing this.
John U.K. advised to "check TfL for any outstanding PCNs against you reg". I found no way to do this.
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I'll see if I can figure out how to challenge the PCNs that haven't arrived by letter yet based on the PCN numbers posted by you.
You just log into Islington's view PCN page with the PCN number as per the list plus the VRM.
There's no rush - wait for others to comment and see if anything comes in the post apart from the two other Islington PCNs. It's easier when they are all one council/authority.
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Thank you very much for your advice and the footage.
For "Spot the Difference" enthusiasts, here are additional photos of our vehicle: https://imgur.com/a/ZDawkZn
I'll go ahead and report to my local police, get a crime number, and then check "I never was the owner of the vehicle in question" and explain why the photographed car is not our car, despite the same license plate number.
I'll see if I can figure out how to challenge the PCNs that haven't arrived by letter yet based on the PCN numbers posted by you.
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You have good evidence now and you can even challenge the others without waiting for the paper PCNs.
I suspect there may be more coming.
(https://i.imgur.com/yI5vgrI.jpeg)
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As you can see, Stamf is doing sterling work.
As he says, you need to report it to your local police and get a crime number - the police can also put a mark against your reg.mark so that the car can be stopped and checked - so expect ANPR checks if they do.. Are you in London or elsewhere?
Also please post photos of your numberplate and car from the same sort of angles as the clearer ones Stamf has unearthed - members here seem to enjoy playing 'Spot the Difference'.
You might also check TfL for any outstanding PCNs against you reg.
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EDIT: post crossed with your latest.
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Here's the video - also shows side view.
(https://i.ibb.co/1fhN6Bb0/London-Boroughof-Islington-PCNEvidence-ezgif-com-video-to-gif-converter-1.gif)
You can click through and pause this:
https://imgur.com/LXZ0QfK
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Thanks, this is great footage. Where did you find this?
Here is a photo of our car rear: https://imgur.com/a/CfsaM3a
Differences to the photo posted by you: EU stars on blue ground on left side of the rear license plate are missing; "Hybrid technology" logo missing next to "Auris" text.
Feels like one of those "spot the difference" challenges I did as a kid. I was not very good at them.
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I'll have a look at the other two in a bit to see if the evidence is better.
I think you'l need a police log for this.
EDIT - Prebend St is useless as dark but Colebrooke Row looks promising with also a close up of plate - can you see any differences in the plate or car?
(https://i.ibb.co/1fT6JHXf/Screenshot-2025-09-10-at-16-51-54.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/TDRmPFfH/Screenshot-2025-09-10-at-16-51-16.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/qLhTSKQF/Screenshot-2025-09-10-at-16-51-07.png)
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Looks like you have another two coming your way.
Start by making a list of the differences you can see between your car and the one they've captured and the other evidence you have of where your car was.
(https://i.ibb.co/8LtMSFXp/Screenshot-2025-09-10-at-16-08-54.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/0jhLjcmK/Screenshot-2025-09-10-at-16-11-42.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/zWVs22Qd/Screenshot-2025-09-10-at-16-11-26.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/GXjJD97/Screenshot-2025-09-10-at-16-11-17.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/nsc4GKYb/London-Boroughof-Islington-PCNEvidence-ezgif-com-video-to-gif-converter.gif)
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Outline of the case:
Received the PCN today. The photographed car is not our car. My partner and I were at home at the time with our car in the driveway. Our "Google Maps Timeline" shows us both at home. Our insurance fitted monitoring device shows no trips on the day of the alleged offense. Our dashcam made no recording on that day.
The photographed car looks very similar to ours. The colour and the vehicle registration number match. From the provided photographs it's hard to tell whether the photographed car is the same model as ours, it may well be. The only difference I spotted with certainty: the photographed car has no P plate, our car has magnetic P plates (documented on many photos and Google maps).
How you might help:
Please advise how I should respond to the PCN.
PCN here:
https://imgur.com/a/hfB7t1Y