Rogue wheel clamping firms could soon find themselves subject to tough new regulations, reports the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. The Home Office is looking at proposals for compulsory licensing. This is to tackle the limited number of wheel clamping companies whose dodgy practices include:
- excessive penalties for releasing clamped cars;
- towing cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped;
- hidden, missing or confusing signs warning drivers that clamping takes place; and
- a lack of any appeals process for drivers.
Currently, any individual undertaking wheel clamping must hold a frontline licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA), with supervisors or directors holding a non-frontline licence.
The new proposals would make it mandatory for the company itself to be licensed to help ensure it upholds standards of conduct, which will be enforced if they are not met.
The Home Office will launch a formal consultation at the end of April considering how best to regulate the industry.
The licensing of individual wheel clampers has gone a long way to reducing criminality and improving standards in the industry. But it has become clear that the existing licensing scheme does not address all the concerns the public have.
That is why we intend to look carefully at how we can introduce a scheme for compulsory licensing of clamping companies.
The proposals for a compulsory licensing scheme are likely to include industry-wide standards for:
- signage, including size and visibility;
- maximum penalties charged and payment methods;
- minimum time between immobilisation and removal;
- providing evidence that a parking infringement has taken place;
- security and location of pound where vehicles are impounded; and
- complaints and appeals policy.
