Drivers warned over rudeness to wardens

Motorists on the receiving end of parking fines after next week are being warned that abusive behaviour towards parking wardens will not be tolerated.

Staffordshire Police has said it will fully support parking wardens issuing fines to drivers in Cannock Chase and Lichfield from March 23 when tough new rules come into force. From Monday Cannock Chase Council will take over the enforcement of illegal parking on double yellow lines from Staffordshire Police.

Now police officers have said abuse of the new wardens, called civil parking enforcement officers, will not be tolerated.

Teams of wardens have been out on the streets of both districts since March 9, issuing warning notices to drivers who flout yellow line parking restrictions.

From next week the warnings will become real fines with drivers being charged between £50 and £70 depending on the offence. Charges will be reduced by 50 per cent for prompt payment.

Proceeds from the new rules will pay for the service with any surplus being ploughed back into transport projects.

It is estimated as many as 9,000 fines will be issued in Cannock Chase in the first year.

The vow from police and parking chiefs follows reports from parking officers in other parts of the country who have suffered verbal and physical threats and even violence while trying to bring offenders to book. The team in Cannock Chase is made up of specially trained parking officers who have the power to issue penalty notices to drivers who break the law and park on yellow lines.

Chief Inspector Vera Bloor of Staffordshire Police said the police would back the wardens.

She said: "Some drivers flout these regulations at the expense of their neighbours and the local community, however, to then attack and abuse those who are only doing their duty is completely unacceptable."

Councillor Tony Williams, chairman of the new Joint Parking Committee, said: "Yellow lines are there for a reason. They protect communities from parking that could block the highway and cause a danger. Poor parking could mean a child darts out in front of traffic."