Traffic and Technology Division
Department for Transport
Zone 2/19
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London SW1P 4DR
Tel: 0300 330 3000
Web Site:
www.gov.uk/dft
Wayne Pearsall
Our Ref: DM/FOI/F0017946
Email:
request-613716-
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
11 November 2019
Dear Mr Pearsall,
Freedom of Information Act Request F0017946
Thank you for your request dated 20 October 2019, in which you have asked the
following:
“Statutory guidance for parking enforcement States that a CEO uniform must be
'defined' by a parking authority (usually a local council).
Can you please provide any guidance/memo/circular etc issued to authorities on
how a uniform would be defined (made definitive, and not able to be changed on a
whim). One would assume that an authority requires a written record of the
uniform policy?
Said guidance also states that a number of items should be clearly visible:
- parking enforcement
- ID number
- name of authority
- and that the wearer is a CEO.
Please provide any guidance/circular/ memo/etc provided to authorities on
implementation of these requirements.”
And your additional request also dated 20 October 2019, in which you have asked the
following:
“Statutory guidance States that a CEO uniform must clearly state that the CEO is
engaged in Parking enforcement.
Did this mean that their uniform must state the phrase 'parking enforcement'.
Have you provided any guidance specifically on uniform presentation, recording
etc.”
Your request has been considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the FOI
Act”).
The Department for Transport (DfT) provides guidance to local authorities on how they
should enforce parking restrictions in the ‘Secretary of State’s statutory guidance to local
authorities on the civil enforcement of parking contraventions.’ This statutory guidance
includes the uniforms that Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) should wear in section 8.1,
which states the following:
“When exercising prescribed functions a civil enforcement officer must wear a
uniform. The uniform should clearly show:
• that the wearer is engaged in parking enforcement;
• the name of the local authority/authorities of whose behalf s/he is acting;
and
• a personal identity number.”
The prescribed functions are defined in the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA), section
78(2)(a) and (b) and section 79. In addition to the Road Traffic Act 1984, section 99. The
CEO must wear a uniform when carrying out these functions, which is defined in the TMA,
section 76(3).
The statutory guidance is available at –
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-enforcement-of-parking-contraventions
The DfT does not provide further guidance on the uniforms worn by CEOs. It is a matter
for the individual parking authorities to decide and they must ensure the uniform conforms
with the Regulations.
The statutory guidance states that “the uniform should clearly show that the wearer is
engaged in parking enforcement,” however it does not define that the uniform must state
the phrase ‘parking enforcement.’
The DfT provides non-statutory guidance to local authorities in England on administering
the Blue Badge scheme in the DfT publication, ‘Blue Badge Scheme Local Authority
Guidance (England).’ This is available to view at –
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-blue-badge-scheme-local-authority-
guidance-england
Section 7 of this guidance is about enforcing the scheme. Paragraph 7.35, in particular,
refers to the Disabled Person’s Parking Badges Act 2013 allowing a person who is
employed by a local authority or who the authority have made arrangements with, for the
purpose of inspecting and retaining badges, to carry out badge inspections and retentions
without wearing a uniform. They should produce appropriate evidence of authority when
exercising this power.
If you are unhappy with the way the DfT has handled your request or with the decisions
made in relation to your request you may complain within two calendar months of the date
of this letter by writing to the DfT’s FOI Advice Team at:
Zone D/04
Ashdown House
Sedlescombe Road North
Hastings
East Sussex TN37 7GA
E-mail:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx
Please send or copy any follow-up correspondence relating to this request to the FOI
Advice Team to help ensure that it receives prompt attention. Please also remember to
quote the reference number above in any future communications.
Please see attached details of DfT’s complaints procedure and your right to complain to
the Information Commissioner.
Yours sincerely,
Aaron Myrie
Your right to complain to the DfT and the Information Commissioner
You have the right to complain within two calendar months of the date of this letter about
the way in which your request for information was handled and/or about the decision not
to disclose all or part of the information requested. In addition a complaint can be made
that DfT has not complied with its FOI publication scheme.
Your complaint will be acknowledged and you will be advised of a target date by which to
expect a response. Initially your complaint will be re-considered by the official who dealt
with your request for information. If, after careful consideration, that official decides that
his/her decision was correct, your complaint will automatically be referred to a senior
independent official who will conduct a further review. You will be advised of the outcome
of your complaint and if a decision is taken to disclose information originally withheld this
will be done as soon as possible.
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner
can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF