Thames Valley Police's Chief Constable Peter Neyroud says a computerised car number plate recognition system will dramatically boost arrest rates.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), to be introduced from April, recognises registrations of vehicles belonging to wanted criminals, banned drivers and people with criminal records.

The system works within seconds by taking a picture of a number plate, which is then automatically checked against the Police National Computer and the DVLA database, which have lists of offenders' cars and untaxed vehicles.

A sound alerts officers when a match is made.

It is to be tested in two police cars fitted with cameras in Oxford and north Oxfordshire.

Mr Neyroud said if the system was put into the force's cars it could dramatically increase the number of arrests made.

"We could double our productivity from the roads policing department," he said.

"I want it in every area and in every roads policing vehicle. There would be a substantial difference."

Cameras mounted in the back of two police vans are already in use in the Thames Valley area.

From April, Thames Valley Police will be ready to link CCTV security cameras in the county's towns with the ANPR system.

Four district councils with CCTV networks in the force's area have expressed an interest, although none in Oxfordshire have asked for it to be introduced.

Project manager Insp John Ramsbottom said officers working with automatic number plate recognition in other forces were 10 times more likely to make an arrest than those without it.

"ANPR is the next big thing. I think the statistics speak for themselves," he said.

He said 90 per cent of those people arrested in Northampton pleaded guilty after being picked up by CCTV cameras linked to ANPR.

He claimed police using ANPR to stop and search offenders were 45 per cent more likely to find stolen goods, offensive weapons and tools used for break-ins.

It is not yet known how many police cars will be equipped with the system in the Thames Valley area.

Money is expected to be available in the force's budget for next year, set by the Thames Valley Police Authority.

So far the police have not revealed how much the system will cost.