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Spy cameras in school parking clampdown
Police have launched mobile spy cameras to film antisocial parents who put children’s lives at risk by parking illegally outside schools.
Officers fear a child could be seriously injured or killed on the school run as incidents continue to spiral of irresponsible parking on zig zag markings, double yellow lines and pavements.
Police say a number of initiatives to educate parents about the dangers have failed and some irresponsible drivers continue to flout the law.
Now a new get-tough approach is underway during a campaign dubbed ‘Operation Maintain.’
This week police are carrying out morning and afternoon video van patrols outside school in the Normanton, Featherstone, Sharlston and Streethouse areas of Wakefield.
Multiple cameras on the van’s roof film and record cars parked illegally to gather information to prosecute offenders if they refuse to pay £30 fixed penalty notices.
PC Tim Stead, of Normanton and Featherstone Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “To prevent collisions, injuries, deaths and also combat the nuisance bad parking creates the police in this area have tried various tactics.
“These include working with schools and children to educate parents in regards where not to park, supporting the ‘walking bus’ schemes, issuing advice and verbal warnings to drivers and also issuing fixed penalty tickets for offences. None of these methods have as yet made much of an impact and the illegal parking continues.”
The video van filmed cars parked outside Normanton All Saints C of E Infant School on High Street yesterday morning.
PC Stead said the patrols are designed as a deterrent to parents who may think twice about parking illegally in future. “If you park illegally then you may not be aware that your vehicle has been filmed, and you could receive a summons in the post. This vehicle allows officers to cover a large number of schools so anti-social behaviour of parents is caught on camera. It also allows greater evidence to be produced in support of these potential prosecutions.”
PC Stead added: “Historically there have always been problems surrounding parking outside and near schools at both ends of the school day. This is an issue that appears to be escalating and the source of numerous complaints to the local authorities and police. Not only is inconsiderate parking a nuisance, it can be illegal.”
mark.lavery@ypn.co.uk
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
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Normanton NPT
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 03:57 PMIn response to Mark's comments above. Our van was not parked on the markings, but driving past to allow the photographer to get his desired shot. It is a multi-agency vehicle, but in the main it is driven by Police Officers. As such displays the logos of all the organisations who worked together to provide the vehicle.
Mark Paul
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:26 PMthe van is no more exempt from parking fines than the public. they should lead by example and not park on zig zag stripes in civilian vehicles with green stripes. They are also breaking the law by displaying the word police on the vehicle.
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