A man was arrested in connection with drug offences recently after a camera in Harpenden spotted the vehicle he was driving.

Automatic number plate recognition cameras tracked the car on Luton Road on May 3 where officers stopped the car.

After searching it they found cannabis and arrested 26-year-old Naheed Mahmood of Daimlor Drive, Dunstable, who was later charged with possession of Class B drugs.

He was released on bail to return to Central West Herts Magistrates Court on May 19.

Chief inspector for roads policing, Richard Hann, said: “Using ANPR technology we are able to identify offenders who use the county’s roads, track their movements and build up an intelligence picture which we can use to solve a variety of crimes.

He went on: “Drugs have an impact on the whole community, not just the dealers and users, and are often the cause of other acquisitive crime. ANPR cameras help us to understand how drugs move in and around the county and who is dealing or using drugs.”