Car Cloning: Filming The Trade In Illegally Supplied Number Plates

Feb 121 min read

We recently provided a camera crew for two days to the BBC London Investigation unit.

The BBC found seven companies on Amazon that were selling plates without checking customers' documents and establishing their legal entitlement to the plate.

Filming in and around Westbury our cameraman worked on part of the film with investigative journalist Jim Wheble from BBC London. This involved a lot of waiting around and approaching various individuals involved for comment.

"We had to use very small cameras to ensure we could quickly approach and or follow the alleged offenders. Part of this was using the latest mini cameras with advanced stabilisation" the solo16 cameraman explains.

Last year the BBC revealed a 64% increase over three years in the number of fines cancelled due to car cloning incidents in London.

A part of the investigation the BBC bought the number plates on Amazon from seven suppliers who topped the listing on the day of purchase. All the number plates ordered were delivered without the BBC having to produce any documents.

Amazon is now banning the sale of car number plates on its platform after this BBC London investigation.

READ THE FULL STORY.

The story aired on BBC London, BBC Points West, BBC South East on 12/2/25. You can watch it below.