CAMERAS that can read car number plates are not a new invention.

For some years countries around the world have used them to check if people have the necessary permits to use certain roads.

And London's congestion charge would not be effective without the ability to check if each driver had paid up before entering the central zone.

Criminals will not hesitate to make use of all kinds of technology if it helps them to get away with offences and evade capture by police.

Fraud, deception and drugs crime these days invariably involve use of computers and sophisticated technology.

With this in mind it's good news that sophisticated versions of the speed cameras that so many motorists believe are often unfairly used merely to raise revenue will help to catch what some would call "real criminals."

Car numbers "read" by these roadside cameras will be put through computers and quickly tell if vehicles are stolen or if their owners are likely to be up to no good.

They could be used to prove offenders were in a certain street at a certain time and thus place them near the scene of a crime - or destroy a concocted alibi.

Fighting crime efficiently is highly labour intensive. This technology is a welcome, efficient way to protect us from it.