Monthly journal Parking Review has been the definitive source of news and intelligence on the UK and international public and private parking sectors since 1989.

BPA disciplines UK Parking Control and revises its own code of practice

Mark Moran
01 October 2015
BPA chief executive Patrick Troy
BPA chief executive Patrick Troy

 

The British Parking Association (BPA) says it has disciplined UK Parking Control (UKPC) in the wake of allegations of evidence tampering by some of its employees. The allegations are that staff working for UKPC have been altering timestamps on digital cameras to make it appear that cars left in privately owned car parks it patrols have overstayed.

The association has also announced revisions to the code of practice for private parking operators. It has banned the use of incentive schemes that encourage employees to issue tickets, and has also introduced a mandatory grace period akin to that that now applies to local authority parking operations.

The BPA says that following an investigation UKPC has been disciplined in accordance with its “Scheme of Sanctions”. The association’s statement has not revealed the exaction nature or consequences of the disciplinary action. 

The company is a member of the BPA’s Approved Operator Scheme (AOS), which enables it to gain access to vehicle keeper data held by the DVLA.  A BPA statement said: “The DVLA, which is carrying out its own audit, has been kept informed throughout the process. This follows concerns raised regarding the practice of offering financial incentives to parking attendants/wardens."

Last month the DVLA suspended UKPC’s access to its vehicle keeper database while it investigates the evidence tampering allegations. There is also the prospect of a separate police investigation following a complaint made to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime. This complaint is being assessed by the National Fraud Investigation Bureau (NFIB), which collates and analyses intelligence on fraud, and makes the decision to send crimes to law enforcement agencies for investigation, disruption and prevention purposes. 

The changes to the association’s code of practice come into immediate effect. The BPA said: “Our investigations highlighted the need to update our Code of Practice, to make it absolutely clear that the practice of offering financial incentives to parking attendants/wardens that relate to the quantity of PCNs issued by them is wholly unacceptable. This comes into effect on 1 October 2015.” 

“Also effective from this date, is an extension to the grace period at the end of the paid for parking time or after the expiry of a free parking period, to a minimum of 10 minutes. This brings private car parks into line with car parks run by local authorities who are required by law to observe a ten minute grace period in the same circumstances.”

Patrick Troy, chief executive of the BPA, said: “We want to make it easier for motorists to park in whichever car park they use when they go about their daily business. By making private car parks as similar to local authority ones as possible life becomes much simpler for the motorist. The BPA is committed to encouraging and developing the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics within its membership. The BPA Code of Professional Conduct sets out the standards expected of those working in the profession and all BPA members commit to the code when they join the association.”

The changes to the code of practice coincide with changes to administration of Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA), the body that listens to appeals by drivers ticketed by AOS members.

The BPA stated: “As a result of a recommendation by Independent Scrutiny for Parking Appeals on Private Land (ISPA), the body established to oversee the independence of POPLA, the body from which motorists can get quick, simple and free independent redress, parking operators must also give motorists 28 days to pay after POPLA makes its decision rather than 14. This also replicates practices in the local authority sector.”

From 1 October the service is being run for the BPA by Ombudsman Services, a company that provides appeals and dispute resolution services to the energy, retail and communications services.

POPLA had been run for the BPA by London Councils, which operates the London Tribunals service that listens to appeals by drivers contesting parking and moving traffic offence tickets issued by the London boroughs and Transport for London.

Michael Greenslade, lead adjudicator of POPLA since its launch in October 2012, and the existing panel of assessors have decided not to transfer to the new provider. Greenslade will be remaining an adjudicator with London Tribunals.

Ombudsman Services have not named a new lead adjudicator. When asked if a lead adjudicator and new assessors had been appointed a spokeswoman for the company told Parking Review: “We do not comment on our recruitment or employment practices.”

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