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 Hull North MP Diana Johnson is to raise the problem of
over-zealous clamping by private security firms with ministers at
Westminster.
Diana has been receiving
information from local people in Hull about their experience of the
activities of a private sector security firm following the case
last week of Michael Lea, a Hull North constituent. Mr Lea, a
resident of Hull North’s Princes Avenue, spent two days living in
his van after being clamped by Sector Security Ltd - and presented
with a £250 cash demand for releasing his van.
This London-based company has
been operating at a number of sites in and around Hull. As well as
taking up Mr Lea’s case, Diana has spoken to a number of local
people and traders in Princes Avenue about the problems that
clamping has been causing. Diana has raised these concerns in
conversations with a representative of Sector Security Ltd, who
insisted on remaining anonymous.
The Hull North MP is planning to
compile a dossier of case studies where members of the public
believe that they have been treated unfairly by private sector
clampers, and will be raising the issue with the Home
Office.
Diana Johnson MP said: “Since
taking up the case of my constituent Michael Lea last week, I have
been receiving messages from other local people about their
treatment at the hands of over-zealous private clampers.
“There seems to be a pattern of
them turning up within a few minutes, clamping vehicles and
demanding £250 in cash to release them. I have also seen this for
myself.
“Everyone would accept the
enforcement of sensible rules on parking on private land and public
areas - but this must be done fairly. Otherwise, a legitimate
service to the public and property owners can easily become a
racket akin to highway robbery.
“In Princes Avenue, the excesses
of Sector Security Ltd risks damaging decent local businesses, in
the middle of the recession, by driving potential customers
away.
“The clamping firm involved in
Princes Avenue have told me that they are complying fully with
their legal requirements. The fact that they may well be right
raises doubts about whether the current licensing regime and the
voluntary industry code are adequate.
“There seems to be a strong case
for parking enforcement practices by private security firms and
local authorities to be regulated in law with a fair and clear set
of rules that can be enforced. In Scotland, the use of wheel clamps
on private land has been outlawed, as a form of extortion, since
1992. There is no good reason why this ban should not be extended
to England.
“I will be raising this matter
with the Home Office Minister responsible for this policy area. To
help with these discussions, I want to put together a dossier of
peoples’ experiences of dealing with private clampers. Those
wanting to contact me with information should write to me at the
House of Commons or e-mail me at johnsond@parliament.uk.
“I would also be happy to pass names collected
on local petitions about this issue to
Parliament.”
Ends
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9 March 2009: Hull MP seeks clampdown on clampers
