The end of the parking attendant  (27/03/2008)

Like them or loathe them- the reign of the parking attendant has come to an end after nearly 20 years of patrolling the city's streets.

New legislation coming into place today (31/03) heralds the demise of the Parking Attendant as we know it in Westminster and will transform parking enforcement across the country.

Westminster Council has replaced the Parking Attendant with new Civil Enforcement Officers (CEO), who will continue to enforce parking but will have a much wider role- becoming the new ‘eyes and ears’ of the community.

The civil enforcement officers will be easily recognisable in their striking brand new smart uniforms - navy baseball caps and bomber jacket with reflective silver stripes.

And for the first time today, the new CEOs will today be hitting the streets of Westminster in their new outfit.

Director of Parking at Westminster City Council, Alastair Gilchrist, said:

“Much of what is in the new legislation is existing good practice, which has been pioneered at Westminster.

“Our CEO’s already carry out valuable work keeping Westminster moving but the Act means we will expand their role to become the new ‘eyes and ears’ of the Council and they will play an increasingly important role supporting the community in the heart of the capital.

"The introduction of the CEO is simply recognising how the role of the Parking Attendant has transformed over the years and attendants in Westminster are an example of how the role has evolved from enforcing parking to now also supporting the community.”

Westminster's Civil Enforcement Officers will continue to enforce parking regulations on some of the busiest streets in the UK but will now become the first point of contact for the public, acting as ‘civic ambassadors’ and helping with directions and other useful information to the more than one million visitors to Westminster every day.

Under the new role, CEO’s will proactively assist with the prevention of car crime such as alerting motorists if they have left valuable items in view or reporting anything suspicious as well as reporting problems on the roads or pavements.

With new uniforms, they will be highly visible and members of the public can approach them if they have concerns about antisocial behaviour.

Their additional duties under the new Traffic Management Act include:

* Checking that objects placed on the road such as skips are in compliance with their licence.

* They will also be assisting the Council and the DVLA by reporting vehicles with no valid tax disc and report abandoned vehicles.

* Issuing information leaflets and warning notices as well as penalty charge notices.

* The ability to be summoned in front of a parking regulator to give evidence. * Inspecting parking equipment and reporting faults.

* A responsibility to check and report defective parking signs and road markings.

* If they witness criminal activity, they may be called upon to give evidence by the police.

The Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) replaces the Road Traffic Act 1991 and its main objective is to reduce congestion and disruption on the network.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Traffic wardens were introduced in the capital in 1960 by the Metropolitan Police.

CEO’s will not be handing fines for littering, fly posting and graffiti or collecting information for ASBOS in Westminster.