Government launches crackdown on ‘misleading' private parking firms
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said its consultation on a legislation-backed code of practice for the sector is aimed at creating a 'fairer, more transparent private parking system'.
But motoring groups warned the proposals do not go far enough.
Analysis earlier this week by the PA news agency found Britain's drivers were handed a record 14.4 million parking tickets by private companies in the year to the end of March.
That was a 13% increase from the 12.8 million during the previous 12 months, and more than double the 6.8 million in 2018/2019.
Each ticket can be up to £100, meaning the total daily cost to drivers may be near £3.9 million at the current rate.
Local growth minister Alex Norris said: 'From shopping on your local high street to visiting a loved one in hospital, parking is part of everyday life.
'But too many people are being unfairly penalised.
'That's why our code will tackle misleading tactics and confusing processes, bringing vital oversight and transparency to raise standards across the board.
'This is another example of how we are fixing the things that really impact people's day-to-day lives.'
Companies chase vehicle owners for alleged infringements in private car parks, such as at shopping centres, leisure facilities and motorway service areas.
Some parking businesses have been accused of using misleading and confusing signs, aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees.
It emerged in April that many drivers are being sent tickets they claim are unfair because of how some payment machines operate, with one campaigner claiming the devices are 'set up to trap people'.
Some machines which require users to input their vehicle registration accept payment after only one letter is entered.
This has led to multiple cases of drivers paying the required parking fee but still being sent a parking charge notice when their vehicle was detected by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
AA head of roads policy Jack Cousens said the details of the consultation document 'will not please drivers' and suggests the Government is 'bending the knee' to the private parking industry.
He went on: 'A higher cap of £100 compared to the original plans of £50, the retention of debt recovery fees and the inclusion of a £20 so-called mitigation charge does little to offer protection for drivers.
'We urge all drivers to complete the consultation and submit their views and experiences when dealing with private parking firms.
'If Government can understand the depth of contempt drivers hold against some of these shark-like businesses, maybe it will do more to help innocent drivers.'
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said drivers 'desperately need' a government-backed private parking code of practice, but it must have 'sufficient teeth to make a real difference'.
He added: 'We urge every driver who has been issued a parking charge notice that they didn't feel was fair to share their views on the consultation.'
Industry body the British Parking Association said in a statement 'We believe parking systems must strike a balance: they should deter selfish and anti-social behaviour, but they must also be fair, proportionate and transparent.
'That's why we will continue to work closely with the Government throughout this consultation, to help deliver a code that works for everyone: drivers, communities and responsible operators.'
The consultation will run for eight weeks.
A Bill to enable the introduction of a legislation-backed code of conduct received royal assent in March 2019.
This code – scheduled to come into force across Britain by the end of 2023 – included halving the cap on tickets for most parking offences to £50, creating a fairer appeals system, and banning the use of aggressive language on tickets.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
a few seconds ago
- The Sun
Britain's most stolen cars revealed with humble motor topping the list… where does your vehicle rank?
BRITAIN'S most stolen cars have been revealed with a humble motor topping the list from the Government's most recent car theft statistics. The data shows which motors are the most commonly stolen in the UK. Range Rover owners can breathe easy but Hilux owners should be concerned after the sturdy Toyota pick up topped the list. Thefts of the reliable Japanese four-by-four were up 549 per cent in 2024, equating to 584 missing motors in just a year. Overall vehicle thefts were down 4.5 per cent last year but thefts of cars less than three-years-old rose by 6.6 per cent. Land Rover models came out well in the statistics with Range Rover Evoque thefts down a whopping 77 per cent. This brought the brand out of the list of top ten most stolen cars in Britain. The firm has been focused on security improvements with recent models after receiving a slew of theft reports from customers. Amidst the crime wave insuring a Range Rover, especially in the city, was nearly impossible for motorists. In response Land Rover's parent company JLR invested a whopping £1 million to fund proactive policing. This was aimed at tackling the organised crime groups suspected to be targeting the flash motors in the UK. The firm went on to splash out an eye-watering £17 million on updating the security of its motors. Watch moment brazen gang steals car from family driveway in under 20 seconds as thief claims robbing to order is like 'working for Amazon' This included retrospectively upgrading the key systems on 300,000 cars to the latest technology. As a result of the effort there are now no Land Rover models in the top 22 most stolen models for 2024. But car thieves have seemingly pivoted to target another off-road SUV. The near indestructible Toyota Hilux appears to be highly sought after by criminals who nick the motors using electronic bypasses to drive them off without a key. 4 The Hilux has a ready market in foreign countries where its ruggedness is prized and buyers are less concerned about where the motors came from. Richard Billyeald, chief research and operations officer at the insurance industry's Thatcham Research, said: 'Top destinations for stolen UK vehicles include the Democratic Republic of Congo, UAE, Cyprus, Jamaica and Georgia, driven by global shortages of car parts, high vehicle desirability and geopolitical disruption.' With so many Hilux' being stolen police forces across the country have begun issuing warnings to owners. After 11 were nicked overnight Bedfordshire Police urged owners to take extra care. North Yorkshire Police and Nottinghamshire officers have issued similar warnings. Toyota is fighting back though, a spokesman told the Telegraph: 'Toyota GB has invested millions of pounds in a variety of solutions that help protect cars from theft. "These include protective plates, immobilisers, blockers and trackers." BMW retained its second place in the most stolen list of younger cars and Korean brand Kia rose from fifth to third place. Hyundai has claimed that in the market after February 2024 all received the latest hardware and software technology and should be safe from thieves. Thefts by region varied with Greater Manchester seeing a 20 per cent reduction but Bedfordshire, Essex and Warwickshire saw increases. How to protect your car from thieves Wheel clamps are another great option that can prevent your car from being driven away. Again, they are highly visible as they are often sold in bright colours, and may deter opportunistic thieves looking for a quick and easy target. Traditional security measures are also considered when calculating insurance premiums. Rich Morley at Lancaster Insurance explains that, no matter what car you drive, classic or modern, traditional-style security measures can provide extra peace of mind and security for your vehicle, helping to deter thieves in the process. He added: 'When considering a risk profile, we will establish with customers any security measures they have in place to prevent potential theft."
South Wales Argus
30 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
‘More to do' on US steel tariffs than Trump and PM can resolve, minister signals
The Prime Minister will attempt to hammer out a deal on steel import levies when he meets the US president at Turnberry, Mr Trump's Ayrshire golf course. Sir Keir and Scotland's First Minister John Swinney also plan to urge the US president to apply pressure on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, where the population is facing starvation. When the UK and US signed a trade deal in June, it reduced tariffs on car and aerospace imports to the US. But agreement on a similar arrangement for Britain's steel imports was not reached, leaving tariffs on steel at 25%. American concerns over steel products made elsewhere in the world, then finished in the UK, are said to be among the sticking points. Sir Keir is expected to spend most of the day with President Trump on Monday, when he will have a chance to press the president on a steel deal. But Business Secretary Mr Reynolds suggested it may take more than a meeting between the two leaders to resolve the matter, telling BBC Breakfast: 'We were very happy to announce the breakthrough that we had a few months ago in relation to sectors like automotive, aerospace, which are really important to the UK economy. 'But we always said it was job saved, but it wasn't job done. There's more to do. 'The negotiations have been going on on a daily basis since then. There's a few issues to push a little bit further today. 'We won't perhaps have anything to announce a resolution of those talks, but there's some sectors that we still need to resolve, particularly around steel and aluminium, and there's the wider conversation about what the US calls its reciprocal tariffs.' Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has signalled there is 'more to do' on steel tariff talks with the US. (Jordan Pettitt/PA) It comes after Mr Trump announced he had agreed 'the biggest deal ever made' between the US and the European Union after meeting Ursula von der Leyen for high-stakes talks at Turnberry on Sunday. After a day playing golf, the US leader met the president of the EU Commission to discuss the broad terms of an agreement that will subject the bloc to 15% tariffs on most of its goods entering America. This is lower than a 30% levy previously threatened by the US president. Sir Keir is also likely to use his time with Mr Trump to raise the starvation faced by the population of Gaza. The Prime Minister has condemned Israel for restricting the flow of aid into the territory, alongside the leaders of France and Germany. The UK will take part in efforts led by Jordan to airdrop aid into Gaza, Sir Keir said over the weekend. Elsewhere, he is facing pressure from more than 220 MPs to immediately recognise the state of Palestine, something which French president Emmanuel Macron has promised to do. Humanitarian aid is airdropped to Palestinians over Gaza City, Gaza Strip (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) The US is the country 'with the leverage' to make a difference in the conflict in Gaza, the Business Secretary suggested. Mr Reynolds told BBC Breakfast that Gaza would 'of course' be on the agenda for the meeting of the two leaders, adding: 'The intolerable scenes that we're seeing, the world is seeing, are the backdrop to that. 'And of course, the US has itself secured on two occasions ceasefires in the conflict, so they have been actively engaged in it, working with Egypt, the Qataris, and other key partners in the region.' Mr Swinney also promised to raise Gaza with Mr Trump, as it was 'causing deep unease and concern and heartbreak within Scotland'.
The Herald Scotland
30 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
‘More to do' on US steel tariffs than Trump and PM can resolve, minister signals
Sir Keir and Scotland's First Minister John Swinney also plan to urge the US president to apply pressure on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, where the population is facing starvation. When the UK and US signed a trade deal in June, it reduced tariffs on car and aerospace imports to the US. But agreement on a similar arrangement for Britain's steel imports was not reached, leaving tariffs on steel at 25%. American concerns over steel products made elsewhere in the world, then finished in the UK, are said to be among the sticking points. Sir Keir is expected to spend most of the day with President Trump on Monday, when he will have a chance to press the president on a steel deal. But Business Secretary Mr Reynolds suggested it may take more than a meeting between the two leaders to resolve the matter, telling BBC Breakfast: 'We were very happy to announce the breakthrough that we had a few months ago in relation to sectors like automotive, aerospace, which are really important to the UK economy. 'But we always said it was job saved, but it wasn't job done. There's more to do. 'The negotiations have been going on on a daily basis since then. There's a few issues to push a little bit further today. 'We won't perhaps have anything to announce a resolution of those talks, but there's some sectors that we still need to resolve, particularly around steel and aluminium, and there's the wider conversation about what the US calls its reciprocal tariffs.' Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has signalled there is 'more to do' on steel tariff talks with the US. (Jordan Pettitt/PA) It comes after Mr Trump announced he had agreed 'the biggest deal ever made' between the US and the European Union after meeting Ursula von der Leyen for high-stakes talks at Turnberry on Sunday. After a day playing golf, the US leader met the president of the EU Commission to discuss the broad terms of an agreement that will subject the bloc to 15% tariffs on most of its goods entering America. This is lower than a 30% levy previously threatened by the US president. Sir Keir is also likely to use his time with Mr Trump to raise the starvation faced by the population of Gaza. The Prime Minister has condemned Israel for restricting the flow of aid into the territory, alongside the leaders of France and Germany. The UK will take part in efforts led by Jordan to airdrop aid into Gaza, Sir Keir said over the weekend. Elsewhere, he is facing pressure from more than 220 MPs to immediately recognise the state of Palestine, something which French president Emmanuel Macron has promised to do. Humanitarian aid is airdropped to Palestinians over Gaza City, Gaza Strip (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) The US is the country 'with the leverage' to make a difference in the conflict in Gaza, the Business Secretary suggested. Mr Reynolds told BBC Breakfast that Gaza would 'of course' be on the agenda for the meeting of the two leaders, adding: 'The intolerable scenes that we're seeing, the world is seeing, are the backdrop to that. 'And of course, the US has itself secured on two occasions ceasefires in the conflict, so they have been actively engaged in it, working with Egypt, the Qataris, and other key partners in the region.' Mr Swinney also promised to raise Gaza with Mr Trump, as it was 'causing deep unease and concern and heartbreak within Scotland'.
