Parking wardens to become council 'spies'

Parking attendants could soon be able to hand out on-the-spot fines if they catch anyone dropping litter.

The attendants will be re-named "civil enforcement officers" and allowed to issue penalty notices for fly-posting and graffiti.

They would also become council "spies", reporting on unruly behaviour and providing evidence which could lead to prosecutions and Asbos.

Westminster City Council is now considering using the full powers provided by a government shake-up of the parking system.

Under the proposals, parking attendants would be able to: • Hand out tickets for littering, fly-posting and graffiti. • Issue fixed-penalty notices for driving in bus-lanes or jumping red lights. • Report anti-social behaviour and be involved in collecting evidence for Asbos. • Be summoned in front of a parking regulator in court to give evidence.

At the moment, attendants are only allowed to issue parking fines, report abandoned vehicles and inaccurate signs or markings, and check car parks are clean and tidy.

The new rules will be announced by the Department of Transport next month and are expected to come into force on 1 March next year under the Traffic Management Act 2004.

They are designed to free up more police time by switching powers to local councils.