AN MP has vowed to continue his campaign to tackle parking problems.
In a debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday, Wrexham MP Ian Lucas raised the case of Offa Community Council in Wrexham, which has been working with police community support officers (PCSOS) to tackle parking issues in the community.
Despite the partnership, PCSOs are held back as they don’t have the relevant powers to tackle dangerous parking at the moment.
Mr Lucas said the chief constable does not have the ability to grant such powers so the only way for a ticket to be issued is to call in police colleagues, diverting resources away from other areas.
During the debate, he blamed government budget cuts for there being fewer police community beat managers to cover areas in Wrexham such as Offa, resulting in PCSOs handling more work.
Mr Lucas called on the government to give chief constables the discretion to allow PCSOs to tackle nuisance parkers.
He said: “My request to the minister is, therefore, for him to consult on allowing PCSOs to have this power.
“It is not controversial, it would be at the discretion of the chief constable and it has been requested by a PCSO on the ground because she is concerned about young children in her community.
“How can the minister possibly say ‘no’?”
In response, minister of state for police and Criminal Justice Damian Green suggested that the issue might be looked at under anti-social behaviour legislation.
He said he had reservations about allowing changing the law to allow chief constables the discretion to give parking powers to officers.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Lucas said: “During the debate, the minister made clear he had reservations about allowing what communities such as Offa are requesting – even though the powers would be discretionary for chief constables.
“I will explore suggestions he made about anti-social behaviour powers, and will discuss them with councils such as Offa, but it is disappointing that the government has not listened to local concerns.”