Latest news with #PCN
STV News
3 days ago
- STV News
Council issues warning over parking fine scam amid ongoing cyber attack
Glasgow City Council has issued a warning over a parking fine scam amid an ongoing cyber attack. The local authority was alerted to malicious activity on servers managed by a third-party supplier on June 19. Affected servers have been taken offline, leaving several services unavailable, including planning applications, paying parking or bus lane fines, and ordering certificates. Household schedules for bin collections, permits, and complaints are also impacted. The council has now said it is aware of what appear to be scam text messages, directing recipients to pay outstanding parking fines online. The suspicious messages do not mention Glasgow or any other location but have been received by at least some people in the city and elsewhere in the city region. Council officials say the cybersecurity incident is ongoing, but that they are confident the attack does not involve stolen data. It was previously confirmed that no financial systems have been affected, and no details of bank accounts or credit/debit cards processed by those systems have been compromised. Police Scotland, the Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre (SC3), and the National Cyber Security Centre are working alongside the council to investigate the incident. Security specialists have confirmed that the incident was not caused by email, and that email communication with the council remains safe. North Lanarkshire Council and East Dunbartonshire Council are also both impacted by the cyber incident, as they both use Glasgow City Council's payment portal for parking fines and appeals. A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: 'We are investigating these texts as a matter of urgency, and details of the suspicious messages have been shared with police and the national cyber security teams that are assisting us. 'At this stage, while we can't totally discount that this scam involves stolen data – both we and our partners are confident it does not. 'Rather, early indications are that is far more likely to be the work of either opportunistic criminals, trying to exploit the disruption to our normal online services, or a more widespread scam. 'In the meantime, we would like to assure customers that we do not use text messages to chase payment of parking fines. 'We will never call, email or message you asking for banking details – and, if you do need to pay a parking penalty, you can do so by calling the number displayed on the PCN. 'Glasgow is still working alongside Police Scotland, the Scottish Cyber Co-ordination Centre and the National Cyber Security Centre to establish whether any data was stolen during a cybersecurity incident discovered last week. 'If you are contacted by someone claiming to have your data, you should contact Police Scotland on 101.' A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council added: 'North Lanarkshire Council has been impacted as Glasgow City Council processes penalty charge notices for parking fines and appeals, on our behalf. No other online services are affected.' Ann Davie, chief Executive, East Dunbartonshire Council commented: 'While we have not been directly impacted by today's incident, East Dunbartonshire Council does use Glasgow City Council's Parking Penalty Charge Notice payment portal which has been affected in the ongoing cyber incident. 'As a result, we are in contact with Glasgow City Council to better understand the situation.' The council's IT provider CGI said: 'CGI is working closely with Glasgow City Council and the relevant authorities on this incident. 'We take our cybersecurity obligations seriously and have robust protocols in place to identify, investigate, and remediate incidents to support business continuity for our clients.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow City Council send warning over text scam after cyber incident
The suspicious messages that have been sent out do not mention Glasgow specifically but have been sent to people in the city. The council say it is investigating the texts and the details of the messages are being shared with police and national cyber security teams who are assisting them. It is currently unable to guarantee that the scam does not involve stolen data, but alongside others investigating the council is confident it is not the case. Read More It is believed to be the work of 'opportunistic criminals' who are trying to exploit the disruption to normal services and it is keen to assure the public it does not use text messages to chase payment of parking penalties. A spokesperson said: 'We will never call, email or message you asking for banking details – and, if you do need to pay a parking penalty, you can do so by calling the number displayed on the PCN. 'Glasgow is still working alongside Police Scotland, the Scottish Cyber Co-ordination Centre and the National Cyber Security Centre to establish whether any data was stolen during a cyber security incident discovered last week. 'If you are contacted by someone claiming to have your data, you should contact Police Scotland on 101.'
BBC News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Manchester drivers hit by yellow box fines of almost £450k
Drivers in Manchester have been fined nearly £450,000 over yellow box junctions, after enforcement powers were made available to councils, figures RAC, which obtained data showing £1m of fines were issued across the UK from 36 boxes in the last year said the "enormously high number" of penalty charge notices (PCNs) should "send alarm bells ringing in council offices".Manchester City Council issued the most PCNs with 13,130 in relation to six junctions, bringing in £446,706. The authority said cameras had been put in place as a "deterrent" to illegal manoeuvres and they were well signposted and visible. Yellow boxes are used to try ensure traffic flows smoothly through busy junctions and motorists should not enter them unless their exit is clear or they are waiting to turn are generally £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 a fraction of yellow box fines are appealed against by drivers, with the highest proportion appealed being 18% in the Manchester City Council single junction that generated the largest revenue was at Dennis Roundabout in Guildford, Surrey, costing drivers £81,445 as 4,250 PCNs were and Cardiff were the only parts of the UK where drivers could be fined for yellow box offences until new legislation was introduced in of Information data provided by English councils showed 36 yellow boxes outside London and Cardiff were enforced last year, with drivers paying £998,640. 'Must be fair' Rod Dennis from the RAC said a yellow box which generates a small number of fines indicates it was "working as it should", which must be the ambition for councils rather than using them as a "revenue-raising opportunity"."Very few people set out to deliberately flout the rules and get fined," he said. "The large number of penalties being dished out over a small number of locations and in a short space of time should send alarm bells ringing in council offices." Manchester City Council said the cameras, which were well signposted and advertised, had been put in place to "act as a deterrent" to illegal turns or blocking of the boxes and the "majority" of drivers obeyed the rules and "help prevent unnecessary gridlock".A "six-week period of grace" was also implemented, it said, with any first offences within the first six months only sent warning Local Government Association said: "All councils follow guidance to ensure motorists are treated fairly."There are processes for appeal if anyone believes they have been unfairly fined." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
RAC reveals the single yellow box junction catching 12 drivers every day - and raising £80K in fines
New figures have revealed that a single, prolific yellow box junction is catching 12 drivers on average every day, amassing more than £80,000 in fines in one year. The data, revealed by the RAC, showed 10 local authorities collected fines worth a combined £998,640 from just 36 yellow box junctions in 2024. The RAC said the 'enormously high number' of penalty charge notices (PCNs) should 'send alarm bells ringing". Before 2022, only London and Cardiff could be fined for yellow box offences. In May that year, the government introduced new legislation that enables all councils across England to apply for enforcement powers. According to the RAC, which obtained the statistics through Freedom of Information (FoI) requests, Manchester City Council was revealed to have amassed the most revenue from yellow box fines outside of London and Cardiff. It collected £446,706 from 13,130 PCNs for infringements in six boxes, the equivalent of 36 a day. The highest Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) income from a single yellow box was the Dennis Roundabout in Guildford, Surrey, which saw 4,250 PCNs issued to drivers amassing £81,445 in fines. The RAC sent FOI requests to 27 councils in England that had applied for powers to issue so-called 'moving traffic offences' from central government, with 12 authorities responding. The motor services company has stated the need for government guidelines to stipulate where and how big these boxes can be to avoid drivers being caught unfairly. Previously the RAC reported that they have uncovered problems with as many as 90% of yellow boxes that councils were seeking to enforce. Issues included drivers not being able to see where boxes end, boxes being larger than they need to be and ones extending beyond T-junctions. RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: 'The enormously high number of penalty charge notices being raised in just a few council areas suggests things are awry.' Earlier this year, Yahoo News reported how Newham council in east London made £23,000 from fines issued to drivers entering a yellow box junction, despite roadworks making it impossible for them to take another route. Eleven local authorities were revealed to have issued fines in 36 separate boxes outside of London and Cardiff– with a total of 32,748 (PCNs) being issued to drivers in 2024. Medway Council in Kent, raised the second highest amount in fines from 4,433 PCNs in five yellow boxes, the equivalent of 13 a day, raising £145,162. Buckinghamshire County Council were third highest, issuing 3,618 PCNs from four yellow boxes, which was equivalent to 10 a day, raising £139,798. Mr Dennis added: 'It's vital box junctions are used in the correct places and are only as big as absolutely necessary. They must be fairly set up so that drivers don't find themselves stranded through no fault of their own. Sadly, we are aware of several locations where this isn't the case.' The Highway Code states drivers must not enter a yellow box unless they can get through it without stopping. If you do stray into a yellow box and your vehicle becomes stationary when the lights are red or the vehicle cannot clear the box due to congestion, you may be issued a PCN. The sole exception to entering a PCN is if you are waiting to turn right but are prevented from doing so by oncoming traffic. A fine can be issued when the vehicle is stationary within the yellow box or if your vehicle blocks other vehicles from entering or leaving the junction. The RAC say that if a vehicle enters the yellow box but is still moving, or if they entered when the light was amber and couldn't clear the box in time, they may not be fined. Also, you may be exempt from a fine due to a medical emergency or other extenuating circumstances, which may be taken into account. If you are caught in a yellow box, the fine can range from £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days of the notice being issued, or up to £160 in London, with a similar reduction possible. If you receive a PCN notice you will receive a letter in the post detailing the alleged contravention. Instructions will be included with the PCN for how to 'make representations' to the local authority that issued the fine. At this stage you can appeal against the PCN. It is important that you send any images or other evidence to the local authority at this stage to assist your appeal. If the authority rejects your challenge, you will then be able to appeal to an independent adjudicator. Statutory guidance for councils states they should issue warning notices to drivers caught infringing the box for the first time, during the first six months of enforcing a yellow box, with penalty charge notices issued after. Click below to see the latest South and South East headlines
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Major rule change to parking at Tesco, Asda & Sainsbury's pushes ahead – and could save you from being slapped with fine
Read on to find out if the rule affects you BUCKLE UP Major rule change to parking at Tesco, Asda & Sainsbury's pushes ahead – and could save you from being slapped with fine SHOPPERS at Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's might need a special permit for parking to avoid being slapped with a fine. A new petition is being pushed ahead which demands a permit for parent and child parking bays to stop "misuse". 1 A new petition calls for a special permit for parents with young children Credit: Getty Juggling grocery bags and young children running around can be an overwhelming experience. That is why many supermarket parking areas have parent and child bays which are located closer to the entrance. However, these spots are often "misused" and taken up by childless drivers. Petition calls for new permits Frustrated parents have now called on UK government to introduce a major rule change to stop that from happening. The petition, created by Laila Noonan, reads: "I am calling on the government to introduce a permit that allows access to parent and child parking bays from 20 weeks of pregnancy until the child turns 8 years old. "Pregnant individuals and parents of young children may face mobility and safety challenges that require accessible parking." "In the later stages of pregnancy and throughout early childhood, we think additional space and proximity to entrances are essential for safety and accessibility. "We think this permit would support the practical needs of expectant mothers and parents managing young children, ensuring safer, more equitable access to essential facilities and stop this misuse of these bays." Current rules Although it isn't illegal to park in parent and child bays, these spots are designated for guardians with at least one child under the age of 12. Childless drivers could risk being hit with a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) when leaving their car in these bays. The RAC points out the uncertainty surrounding pregnant women's eligibility for these places and advises to check with specific store managers about their policies. Supermarkets are largely responsible for reinforcing these rules with Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl and Tesco confirming they're constantly monitoring the parking areas. The RAC said: "Supermarket car parks are private property. Any rules about their use will be enforced by the supermarket themselves or by a private firm allocated to manage them. "Many of these firms are members of the British Parking Association (BPA) and must adhere to the organisation's operator scheme code of practice." The Rac warns against self-reinforcement The RAC cautions parents against taking the matter in their own hands and confronting the violator. They said: "In the frustrating event that you spot someone misusing a parent and child bay, it's best to talk to a store manager. "Approaching somebody using a dedicated bay without young passengers could lead to a hostile situation, so try not to get carried away by the injustice of it all."
