Rosie Winterton MP writes for ePolitix.com ahead of her adjournment debate on the activities of private wheel clamping companies.
I first became involved in the issue of private wheel clamping companies fourteen years ago when I realised the extent of the misery and distress rogue clampers were causing not only in Doncaster Central but also in other parts of Yorkshire – and for that matter in hotspots around the country.
Just how appalling some of these companies behave has been highlighted by both the AA and the RAC who have received literally thousands of complaints from their members. The media have also recognised how outraged the public are about this and there are countless stories of truly unacceptable practices from some companies.
I have campaigned with my local paper to highlight how vulnerable elderly people, young mothers with children and, frankly, people who can least afford it are being stung for large amounts of money. And I say stung, because many of these companies use every trick in the book to get round the legislation as it stands at the moment.
I have received endless complaints from local people about a company having concealed signs covered with minute writing so it is impossible to read that it is a private car park, charging extortionate fees – often by charging two or three times for the same parking transgression – once for clamping, once for towing away and again for storage, refusing to have any proper appeals procedure – using mobile phones that are not answered, and demanding cash only – no other form of payment such as cheques or debit cards – which has led to people being frogmarched to cash points with the clampers standing over them to make sure they come up with the money.
Of course we should not have a situation where there is a parking free for all and of course private landowners need to protect their land but I think we all know that this is not what is happening. Frankly this is not about keeping car parks free for specific users; it is about luring motorists on to private land to get as much money out of them as possible. And it causes endless problems for the local police who have to spend their time explaining to worried motorists that their car has not been stolen but has been clamped and towed away.
We did make progress under the Labour government with first of all the setting up in 2005 of the Security Industry Authority and the licensing of individual clampers. Unfortunately that did not solve the problem. It became clear that the only way to guard against rogue practice would be to ensure that private clamping companies, not just the clampers themselves, had to be licensed, had to conform to a strict code of conduct and had to be subject to an independent and fair appeals process. That is why the Crime and Security Act was passed. The Act introduces a requirement for clamping companies – as well as clampers – to be licensed, it introduces a mandatory code of practice and an independent appeals system.
So the Act has passed but now we need urgent action to bring in the regulations. The Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government document stated "We will tackle rogue private sector wheel clampers". However, the new government has also stated that it is averse to introducing any new regulations.
I will be asking the government if it will definitely introduce the necessary regulations and what the timetable will be for introduction. Also if it will support the establishment of an independent panel to review appeals against fines and what steps will be taken to punish wheel clamping companies that are found to be behaving inappropriately.
Urgent regulations need to be introduced to make the law on clamping effective because the public have a right to be treated humanely. The law must afford people protection. At the moment, drivers continue to be terrorised by a small but active number of rogue wheel clampers. No time should be lost in the Home Office making new regulations to outlaw this behaviour once and for all.
Article Comments
I strongly support Rosie Winterton's Bil. I am not a driver but a seriously disabled driver neighbour parked his car on such land described as he had to get to the chemist which was a few yards away. It was impossible for him to park using his blue badge as heavy vechicles were obstructing parking places. He returned to find his car clamped and events followed those described by Rosie Winterton. He was dragged to a cash point where he withdrew what remained of his balance. He waited hours to be released. Upon returning home he was taken ill and hospitalised. He died two days later. The Drs believed it was being forced to walk when he was incapable and sheer fear. Rosie I will support you forever if necessary and may these murdering clampers be condemned to the only place for them - HELL. They should have been charged with murder.
15th Jun 2010 at 6:15 pm by Gerald Phillips
