§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions he has issued to the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis prohibiting the police from attaching wheel clamps to vehicles owned by diplomats which are parked illegally.
§ Mr. HurdResponsibility for enforcing road traffic laws and regulations rests with individual chief officers of police, and my right hon. and learned Friend has no authority to issue directions as to how such enforcement is done.
We understand that the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, who is responsible for operational control of the experimental wheel clamping scheme in force in parts of central London, has obtained legal advice which suggests that wheel clamping contravenes the provisions of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. Wheel clamping of identifiable diplomatic vehicles has accordingly been discontinued. The situation is, however, being examined further.