§ Mr. AmosTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many motor vehicles were towed away for fixed penalty offences in London in 1989;
(2) how many motor vehicles were wheel-clamped in London in 1989;
(3) how many vehicles towed away in London in 1989 were towed away for (a) dangerous parking, (b) obstruction, (c) restricted street offences, (d) parking in designated parking bays and (e) parking in residents' parking bays;
(4) how many vehicles wheel-clamped in London in 1989 were clamped for (a) dangerous parking, (b) obstruction, (c) restricted street offences, (d) parking in designated parking bays and (e) parking in residents' parking bays.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the Commissioner that during 1989 a total of 149,666 vehicles were wheel-clamped and 116,315 vehicles were removed for illegal parking in London.
Information about the number of vehicles wheel-clamped or removed for specific offences could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
As a matter of police policy, fixed penalty notices are issued to all vehicles before wheel-clamping. In the case of vehicles which are removed for parking offences, although the great majority are issued with a fixed penalty notice, there are certain circumstances where the issue of a fixed penalty is not appropriate because of the seriousness of the offence.
§ Mr. AmosTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are used by the Metropolitan police for the priorities for the wheel-clamping and removal of motor vehicles.
§ Mr. Peter LloydWheel-clamping and vehicle removal operations are used by the Metropolitan police as an aid to the enforcement of parking regulations.
Guidelines are issued to all officers engaged on these duties. In areas where wheel-clamping is authorised, any offending vehicle may be clamped or removed. Police officers are expected to exercise discretion as to whether wheel-clamping or removal is the desirable course of action dependent upon prevailing circumstances. A vehicle would not normally be clamped if it is parked in a position which causes serious obstruction or danger to other road users, or if it is parked in a bus lane, bus stop or cab rank, on the approach to or exit from a pedestrian crossing, adjacent to a fire exit or across an access used by emergency vehicles or leading to private premises.
In order of priority, enforcement action is concentrated on those vehicles which are causing danger, obstruction, parked illegally in restricted areas or parked illegally in permitted parking places.