§ 22. Mr. Iremongerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been made by 1760 the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis for parking offences in King's Gardens and Benton Gardens, Seven Kings, Ilford; and what plans he has for instituting a special force of traffic police to control unlawful parking of cars in residential areas and for other similar purposes.
§ Mr. TaverneBetween 1st January, 1966, and 11th January, 1967, 10 written cautions and 68 oral warnings were given for causing unnecessary obstruction in King's Gardens, and 41 written cautions and 20 oral warnings in respect of Benton Gardens.
My right hon. Friend is considering suggestions made by the Police Advisory Board Working Party for making the best use of available manpower by extending the powers and functions of traffic wardens.
§ Mr. IremongerI thank the Minister for that information, but is he aware that the residents of this area are fed up with the constant evasion and buck-passing that has met their protests, and that old and young people are in real danger in this area because of parking offences? Will he urge the Commissioner to take more effective action when he issues these cautions?
§ Mr. TaverneThe Commissioner has considered this matter and has decided that statutory waiting restrictions would not be appropriate in these two gardens, as they are residential streets which are not important from the point of view of through traffic. Nevertheless, to minimise the inconvenience, of which he is aware, the employees of the Plessey Company have agreed to park on one side of the road only. I hope that that will help.