Haringey's policy on parking dubbed a 'clamper's charter'

Local Conservatives have slammed a new parking enforcement policy adopted by
Haringey's ruling Executive as a 'clampers' charter'. They are angry that
motorists who commit even the most minor parking offences are to have their cars
clamped & towed away by the Council in order to pay the Council's costs of
clamping & removing the cars of persistent parking fine offenders.

Conservatives say the new policy is 'draconian and unfair'. They say that the
costs of tackling persistent fines' evaders should be met from the Parking
Service accounts as a whole, not by caning those committing the most minor
parking infractions.

On 10 June 2003, the Council's Executive adopted the following policy on
clamping and removal:

"As the Borough suffers from exceptionally high levels of persistent [fines]
evaders, any policy would identify these as highest priority fro clamp or
removal. However, it is not practical or sensible to rely on persistent evaders
solely as it is likely that a large number of those vehicles will not be
reclaimed and the operation is at risk of running at a loss. It is therefore
proposed that...clamp & removal is used to reinforce ANY [our emphasis] parking
contravention".

Said Peter Forrest, Conservatives GLA candidate for Enfield-Haringey:

"This new policy is a 'clampers' charter'. It is draconian and unfair to cane
those committing the most minor parking infractions in order to pay the
Council's costs of tackling persistent evaders.

The costs of tackling persistent evaders should be met from the Parking
Service's accounts as a whole.

We not not fine those dropping sweet papers in the street £1,000+ in order to
cover the costs of tackling those dumping tons of builders' waste in the middle
of the night. The new misguided policy on clamping and removal is tantamount to
that.

This is yet another key issue which the Lib-Dem so-called 'official opposition'
has overlooked".

ENDS.

Notes to Editors:
1. Policy statement taken from paper 22 "Parking Service Developments" to the
Council's  Executive dated 10 June 2003 (para 7.2).