AA clamping ban would lead to chaos says local clamper (From Gazette)

AA clamping ban would lead to chaos says local clamper

7:30am Monday 24th August 2009 in

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A CAR clamping boss claims a ban on private clampers would lead to “anarchy and chaos”.

Tony Fithon, managing director of Colchester clamping firm, Impact Security Services, says AA calls for a ban are unnecessary and would leave the police and other authorities under pressure.

The motoring organisation has condemned unregulated private clamping firms as “immoral” and is urging the Government to ban them.

But Mr Fithon said: “Wheel clamping plays an important part in the overall security of the UK.

“The big problem is that there is no ceiling on what you can charge to release a clamped car. If the Government put a limit in place, all these problems would go away.”

Tony Fithon, of clamping firm, Impact Security Services

“If you took doormen off the doors on a Saturday night in Colchester, the police could not cope and the bars and night clubs would have to shut down.

“If you took the traffic wardens off the streets, there would be chaos and anarchy and it is exactly the same with car clamping. The police would have anarchy in the UK.”

He added: “The big problem is that there is no ceiling on what you can charge to release a clamped car.

“If the Government put a limit in place, all these problems would go away.”

The AA says some unscrupulous companies are charging as much as £500 to release vehicles.

It also believes it is too easy for people to get access to Government records of car owners’ details, allowing almost anyone to set up a car clamping business.

Paul Watters from the AA said: “The lure of uncontrolled money-raking is so great some companies even offer DIY packs, with signs clampers can print off the internet.

“Private parking enforcement is big business, generating millions of pounds and no one notices, or acts when the rules are broken.

“The public has absolutely no protection if a private parking firm acts unfairly, as it is a civil matter and no one is interested in helping.”

Essex University recently backed down in a row with students, hundreds of whose cars were clamped by Woodlund Services, which then demanded £50 to release them. In the end, the university agreed instead of clamping, drivers would simply be given a penalty notice, warning cars were liable to be clamped in future.

The Government has promised legislation regulating clampers will be introduced in 2010.