Assaults on parking attendants will not be tolerated and councils will seek to prosecute any perpetrator, warns London Councils, the body representing the capital’s boroughs.
The warning followed an attack on a parking attendant in Wandsworth in June, leaving him in a serious but stable condition in hospital. Two men have since been arrested in connection with the incident.
Parking attendants, according to the body, face violence on a daily basis simply for doing their job. This ranges from being spat at and verbally abused to even being shot at and run over
Chairman of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, Cllr Daniel Moylan, said: “I am absolutely shocked by the attack on the attendant in Wandsworth and we hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.
“Parking attendants play a key role in ensuring that people can use the capital’s roads as smoothly and safely as possible.
“There are the proper channels for people to use to appeal against a parking ticket. Whatever anyone feels about receiving a parking ticket there is absolutely no excuse for any acts of violence or intimidation against a parking attendant.
“We take this very seriously and boroughs always actively seek to prosecute anyone assaulting parking attendants.”
There are around 1,900 parking attendants working for London boroughs. A survey by London Councils two years ago showed that up to three parking attendants a day are assaulted across London every day.