That if you fit a 4x4 number plate panel between the rear lights on a 2 wheel drive that you have to drill holes in the rear panel?

I've got a 1988 2 wheel drive with tinted rears fitted with the number plate panel but it appears that someone has drilled the rear panel to fit the numberplate surround Is that normal & how it should be?

If so it looks like I'll be getting that repaired too So much for swapping the rear lights back