English parking charge firm cleared of fraud by Scots court

An English company accused of sending 'unenforceable' parking tickets to Scottish motorists has been cleared of fraud in a landmark legal case.
Picture: PAPicture: PA
Picture: PA

Civil Enforcement Ltd went on trial earlier this week after handing out fines to vehicle owners in Kemnay, Kintore and Inverurie, in Aberdeenshire, who had supposedly spent too long in private car parks between December 2013 and August 2014.

Prosecutors claimed that over a nine-month period the firm sent “civil penalty charges” in full knowledge that the legislation cited on the paperwork was not valid in Scotland.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Civil Enforcement was alleged to have demanded payment under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 – which only covers the recovery of unpaid parking charges south of the Border.

But at the close of the Crown case yesterday defence advocate Craig Findlater made a no case to answer submission, claiming there was an “insufficiency of evidence” and that some of the allegations “had no evidence whatsoever” to back them up, as the people mentioned in certain charges were not put on the stand during the trial.

Sheriff Edward Savage ruled in favour of upholding the submission and found Civil Enforcement not guilty of all charges.

Related topics: