Parking attendants to join forces with police

Published on Thursday 11 June 2009 10:14

PARKING enforcers are to be recruited as police spotters to help in the city's fight against crime.

A new agreement between the police and parking firm NSL will see attendants trained to spot everything from vehicle crime to antisocial behaviour and drug deals.

Enforcers may also be drafted in to help out the force on major inquiries, though they will not be given any extra powers.

The deal – the first of its kind in Scotland – is similar to schemes in England, such as one in Lancaster where parking attendants helped track down a vehicle used in an armed robbery during the initiative's first day of operation.

Police and council chiefs today welcomed the new arrangements, but one leading motoring group warned against attendants taking the law into their own hands.

The scheme, called Partnership Plus, will be officially launched today when representatives from the council, the police and NSL sign the new agreement.

Enforcers out on the beat will be expected to radio back to their control centre if they spot anything suspicious. The message will then be relayed to the police.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city's transport convener, said: "Our parking attendants' main objective is to maintain safe, steady traffic flow through Edinburgh's streets, but through working more closely with the ambulance service and now with the police, they can become an even greater asset to our city."

The initiative, which will also include the city's environmental wardens, follows a scheme launched last month in which parking enforcers are given training in basic first aid.

As part of the new agreement the police have committed to increased support for the wardens, helping them ensure they can do their jobs safely.

It will also see parking attendants assist police with special operations, such as clampdowns on blue badge fraud.

Neil Greig, spokesman for the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "In theory, this fits with the joined-up enforcement we have been calling for. The more eyes and ears out there the more likely we are to pick up unlicensed and untaxed cars.

"As ever with parking attendants in Edinburgh, it will be about whether they are heavy-handed and getting involved in things they shouldn't be."

Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken was more supportive.

He said: "I think this is a good move and while I would not wish the wardens to put themselves at risk, I think they and Lothian and Borders Police deserve credit."

Your Say: Is it a good idea to turn parking enforcers into crime fighters?

George Morley, 34, school janitor, Duddingston: "Yes, it should be part of their civic duty to report anything suspicious they see when they're walking the streets."

Mike Falchikov, 71, retired university lecturer, Strathearn Road: "It seems to be a good idea provided they're not trying to do real police work on the cheap."

Julie McCalmont, 26, student, Dalkeith Road: "It shouldn't be an excuse to have less police on the beat."