Sponsored by
Video: Angry motorist captured on traffic warden's shoulder-cam
Traffic wardens in Leeds are on the road to a safer future – with a little help from Big Brother.
Leeds City Council today revealed that its parking enforcement officers have been issued with shoulder-mounted video cameras
* Click here for latest YEP traffic and travel news.
It is hoped the presence of the devices will deter motorists who have been ticketed from taking out their frustration on wardens.
* Click here to follow the YEP on Twitter.
Last year there were 172 recorded incidents of violence or intimidation towards members of the council's parking squad.
* Click here to watch latest YEP news and sport video reports.
They included cases of people throwing punches or spitting at wardens and even trying to run them over.
* Click here for latest YEP news and sport picture slideshows.
Coun James Monaghan, the local authority's executive board member for environmental enforcement, said: "I think (the cameras] send out a strong message that physical abuse of our staff is unacceptable, regardless of people's motivations.
* Click here for latest Leeds United news.
"They are just doing their jobs and deserve protection."
The 10 cameras are being used in parts of Leeds deemed to be blackspots for violence against wardens. They include Harehills and the area around the city centre markets.
Since the scheme's introduction at the end of last year, there has been a 48 per cent drop in problem incidents.
Footage has been handed over to the police on two occasions.
The council says the cameras are only turned on when a warden feels
threatened. Recordings are deleted at the day's end, unless they need to be kept as evidence.
Council chiefs have also pledged that captured footage is not being used for any other purpose but the protection of their staff.
The local authority received almost 15m in parking costs and fines in one recent year.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
