Neighbours urged to dob in inconsiderate parkers under Norfolk Police scheme
The new scheme, called Operation Chatty, aims to catch people parking illegally
Last updated 22nd Aug 2022
Neighbours are being asked to snitch on drivers who park inconsiderately in a new police crackdown – but the scheme has been called a waste of officers’ time by the body that represents them.
The new scheme, called Operation Chatty, aims to catch people parking illegally by obstructing footpaths with a trial having launched in the north of Norwich.
While the scheme has the support of anti-car campaigners, others have questioned the use of resources.
One Norwich dad has spent years campaigning for the police to do something about inconsiderate drivers obstructing footpaths.
Liam Calvert, a member of Car-Free Norwich, said he started a three-year crusade after finding it difficult to push a pushchair down city streets.
He said: “With twins in a pushchair it was almost impossible to get anywhere and there’s a limit to what you can do with notes on cars.
“I recently had a couple in their late 80s telling me she had struggled to get past a car and she took a fall seriously injuring herself.”
Mr Calvert said a lot of people are uncomfortable talking to police and do not want to get in trouble with their neighbours but hoped they would feel comfortable reporting by email.
“On and off over the years I have been hassling the police to do something about pavement parking.
“The police always came back arguing that parking was not their responsibility, they say it is the local authority.
“There’s no need for everyone else to have to go through this to convince the police to do something about it.”
Mr Calvert said after researching the issue he found the police did have a responsibility if the pavement was obstructed.
Anyone caught causing dangerous obstruction could be issued a fixed penalty notice of £90.
However, the scheme raises various questions, such as what it means for areas where there is no space not to park on the pavement.
Andy Symonds, chairman of the Norfolk Police Federation raised concerns about what it means for police resources but said it is incumbent on the police to try to tackle pavement parking.
He said: “In the grand scheme of things police have probably got more important things to get on with rather than reviewing pictures of a pavement.
“Officers are dealing with domestic incidents and robberies and all the things that you want us to deal with.
“If they want to add this to our list of priorities I would say we have got more important things to be getting on with.”
However, he also said the force cannot simply say “no” to tackling these issues and it was right for the community team to act on them.
He said: “I trust them to make the right calls in terms of how they deal with these reports of inconsiderate/nuisance parking.”
A police spokeswoman said: “This is a targeted response to a community issue that has been raised with local officers.
“Whilst it is predominantly for the council to enforce parking issues, we will always strive to work with our partners to address matters that mean the most to our communities.”
While there are currently no plans to expand the scheme beyond north Norwich, anyone with concerns about illegal parking can contact their local safer neighbourhood team.
How will it work?
It will see members of the public asked to dob in their neighbours by emailing the police with a picture, vehicle details and times and dates of the offence.
Officers will then review and look to educate the vehicle’s owner by sending them a letter.
If the obstruction persists they would then look to speak with the driver before enforcing with tickets.
The initiative is being trialled in the Norwich North area first before being reviewed.
However, a police spokeswoman stressed that general parking offences are the local council’s responsibility and should be reported to them.
If you’re in Norwich North and would like to report a parking obstruction, you can do so by emailing OpChatty@norfolk.police.uk
What does the law say?
While large parts of parking enforcement is now covered by councils, obstruction of pavements is still covered by the police.
The Highways Act 1980 says: “If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or a fine or both.”
Since 2011, Enforcement of on-street parking restrictions, including yellow lines and time-limited spaces, is now carried out by civil enforcement officers managed by local councils.
Officers also have the power to issue fines.