'Beyond the Uniform' tackles violence against frontline parking staff

PATROL funds staff safety campaign piloted by Brighton & Hove City Council and North Essex Parking Partnership

Uniformed patrol officers are vital to keeping traffic moving and ensuring safe, legal parking. Their role is varied, ranging from ensuring parking spaces remain accessible, supporting emergency services by keeping routes clear and helping those with disabilities or mobility issues to get around. Parking officers also play a broader role in the community, providing directions to visitors, assisting with emergencies and reporting crime or anti-social behaviour.

Sadly, recent years have seen growing reports of civil enforcement officers (CEOs) in England experiencing abuse. For example, the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) reports that it has seen a 175% increase in reported verbal and physical assaults on its enforcement staff in Essex over the past three years. Brighton has seen a 75% increase in reported incidents in 2024 compared to the previous year. These incidents of workplace violence reported are based on internal reports and do not include police data. The actual number of violent and aggressive incidents is likely to be higher due to underreporting.

Abuse is often captured on body-worn video cameras by staff, including one particularly shocking incident record by Coventry City Council in 2023, which made national headlines.

Now the parking sector has decided to tackle the problem via a public information campaign focussed on humanising the role of parking civil enforcement officers and other traffic enforcement staff. The ‘Beyond the Uniform’ campaign is being spearheaded by Brighton & Hove City Council and North Essex Parking Partnership ahead of a planned national roll-out.

The Beyond the Uniform campaign aims to address this worrying trend, educating the public and fostering empathy by focussing on the lives and stories of the individuals involved in parking enforcement.

Brighton & Hove and NEPP are running separate campaign activities in their local areas under the Beyond the Uniform brand until April and will report on the campaign’s outcomes in the summer. PATROL will then look to coordinate a national roll-out of the campaign with its wider authority membership.

Brighton and NEPP were awarded funding to develop the Beyond the Uniform campaign by Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London (PATROL), a joint committee of over 300 local authorities in England (outside London) and Wales that enforce civil parking and other traffic restrictions.

Brighton and NEPP were joint winners of PATROL’s Driving Improvement Awards programme, which seeks to inspire and recognise local authority public awareness activities that drive positive change in the delivery of enforcement services and engagement with communities.

Laura Padden, director of PATROL, said: “The Beyond the Uniform campaign highlights that staff working in parking and traffic enforcement are everyday people, with families and hobbies like everyone else. Their work is challenging and is often met with an entrenched negative public perception that makes them, as individuals, the target of unjustifiable abuse on our streets.

“The shocking incidents reported in recent years underscore just how urgent the issue of enforcement staff abuse is, and I’m proud that PATROL is backing this important initiative. By showcasing the stories of enforcement staff, we hope to inspire a shift in attitudes and ensure these essential workers, helping to keep roads safe and traffic moving, are supported not targeted.”

Alongside supporting local authorities managing traffic and parking regulations, the principal function of the PATROL Joint Committee is to make provision for independent adjudication of appeals by motorists against traffic and parking penalties issued by local authorities and charging authorities via the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT).

Brighton & Hove City Council

The jury of the PATROL Driving Improvement Awards were impressed by Brighton & Hove City Council and NEPP’s entries, which both set out a case for educating the public about the staff involved in parking enforcement in order to foster respect and empathy.

Launching its Beyond the Uniform campaign, Cllr Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport, parking and public realm, said: “Parking officers are more than their uniforms – they are integral members of our community who work tirelessly to keep Brighton & Hove running smoothly. This campaign shines a light on their dedication and humanity, while calling for a shift in public attitudes. Abuse of any kind is unacceptable. We stand firmly with our officers in promoting respect and appreciation for the essential work they do.”

Information on Brighton’s campaign activities can be found here

In addition, Brighton has produced a video accompanying the campaign, which can be found here

North Essex Parking Partnership

Over the past three years, NEPP has seen a sharp 175% rise in reported verbal and physical assaults towards its staff. This year, incidents are at their highest ever level, with incidents being reported almost daily. The incidents of workplace violence reported above are based on internal reports and do not include police data. The actual number of violent and aggressive incidents experienced by staff is likely to be higher due to underreporting.

NEPP is committed to safeguarding its staff through comprehensive safety training, equipment and procedures. Support services are available for employees who experience abuse, and NEPP collaborates with staff and the police to pursue successful prosecutions. A recent example is the 12-month suspended sentence given to an individual who racially attacked a CEO in Colchester.

The North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) is committed to safeguarding its staff through comprehensive safety training, equipment and procedures. Support services are available for employees who experience abuse, and NEPP collaborates with staff and the police to pursue successful prosecutions. A recent example is the 12-month suspended sentence given to an individual who racially attacked a CEO in Colchester.

Cllr Paul Honeywood, chair of the NEPP, said: “Our CEOs play a vital role in keeping our roads safe, clear and accessible for everyone. The abuse they face is deeply troubling and completely unacceptable. This national pilot campaign is a vital step in protecting our staff, fostering public understanding of their invaluable role, and promoting a culture of respect.”

The NEPP campaign is being piloted in Harlow, where NEPP staff experience the highest levels of abuse. Harlow Council Cllr Nicky Purse, portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said: “This is an important campaign that raises awareness around the inexcusable abuse our Parking Officers experience for doing what is undoubtedly an incredibly important and challenging job which keeps our roads and pedestrians safe from irresponsible parking.

“We hope that this campaign encourages people to reflect on their behaviour and attitude towards Parking Officers, to see the people beyond the uniform and the positive work they do to protect our town and communities.”

Information on NEPP’s campaign activities can be found here

PATROL

The PATROL (Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London) Joint Committee comprises over 300 local authorities in England (outside London) and Wales. The principal function of the Joint Committee is to make provision for independent adjudication in respect of appeals against penalties issued for traffic contraventions by local authorities and charging authorities in England (outside London) and Wales. Adjudication is delivered through the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT). TPT adjudicators are wholly independent lawyers, appointed with the consent of the Lord Chancellor.