WALTHAM FOREST: Clampers fail to meet required standards of parking watchdog (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

As far as I understand it, this won't stop them clamping people. However, being a member of the BPA is required in order to buy registered keeper details from the DVLA, so this might stop them issuing invoices or tickets to drivers by post.

word verification 'shut-shop' :-)

It is illegal for anyone who is not a member of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to clamp on private land, but if they are they can still clamp. The comment is correct, it is an outrage that these bandits have not been eradicated from our streets earlier. I think it is disgusting to see the number of vehicles that prowl our streets waiting to pounce on the unwary, everything from smart cars to lorries seven days a week.

It is illegal for anyone who is not a member of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to clamp on private land, but if they are they can still clamp. The comment is correct, it is an outrage that these bandits have not been eradicated from our streets earlier. I think it is disgusting to see the number of vehicles that prowl our streets waiting to pounce on the unwary, everything from smart cars to lorries seven days a week.

I notice that the scum at Citywatch have not attempted to defend their appalling practices. I am convinced that what they do is against the Human Rights Act (see protocol 1, article 1) which states "everyone is entitled to peaceful enjoyment of their possessions". It also prevents the state of public authorities depriving anyone of their possessions unless it is in the public interest. How could it have been in the public interest in the case of Mr Taylor? More people should stand up to these hideous bullies, well done Mr Taylor.

These people and private bailiffs rely on people's ignorance of the law, and by people, I include the police who are as aware that the law in this area is either shrouded in mystery or, like the Human Rights Act, difficult to access. I'm pleased to see that at least one of our local MPs is backing the general public and attempting to stamp out this stain on the fabric of society.

i have a drive way where people often park and i cant get access to my own property because of it. i would quite happily employ a clamping firm such as city watch to patrol it for me. as for the so called excessive fees they charge, if it stops people re-offending and allows my wife to get the babys pram through the front door without having to fold it down first then bring it on.why should my baby be woken up just because somebody doesnt want to pay for a parking place?! its MY property, I pay for it and other people abuse it yet never listen if i protest about it and just throw away notes i leave on their windscreens. im not a big guy and am definately not a punchy person so if anyone from citywatch is reading this then PLEASE find a way to get in touch and i will sign a contract with you tomorrow!!!All of you that say clamping is immoral and unjustified obviously dont have parking issues and have probably been clamped yourselves for taking liberties on other peoples property.

Well "John de large", ( absolutely no relation!) if someone parked across your drive, surely clamping them and therefore in mobilising them is the last thing you would want. As my Dad frequently points out, clamping is not a deterrent, it is simply a way of extorting money, like clamping on private land, the idea is the offending vehicle was trespassing so why would you want to keep the vehicle there. For that reason it is regarded as illegal.

How is it regarded as illegal? if clamping was illegal then it simply would not be allowed to happen and the police would become involved as it would be classed as a criminal activity.
as everybody often comments, clamping firms clamp the car and then remove it with a lorry so it would no longer be on my driveway. if it didnt get removed then the 'hefty' fines to remove the wheel clamp will atleast deter whoever it is parked there not to park there again. i have a car outside at the moment that has been there all night.why should i have to put up with it and why should my wife and baby have to put up with it?? it doesnt even have an in date tax disc!!
How would everyone who hates clampers so much like it if somebody blocked their driveway and went shopping for 4-5 hours making them pay to park on the road or risk them getting a parking ticket. if people dont like the hefty fines then park somewhere on the road where the fine isnt so heavy. ive seen the warning boards that clamping companies put up and they arent exactly small, if you want to ignore them and take the chance then surely the risk is all down to yourself. or quite simply DONT park on somebody elses property. Its the people who park there that are in the wrong not the clamping company. what would/could the police do if i called them and asked them about this car outside at the moment, theyd either laugh, never turn up or if they did they wouldnt do anything about it. THATS why we need clamping firms, not the rogue firms admittedly who really are extorting money but reputable companies, ones that have the SIA approval and the approved contractor award, which incidentally i believe the people at citywatch have. Ive noticed how its always the people that have been clamped that complain to newspapers etc, at the end of the day, theyve taken the risk despite being warned so on their own head be it. i bet citywatch's actual customers think they run an excellent service clamping and removing illegally parked cars from their car parks and drive ways enabling them to park on their own property. perhaps we should ask a few of them of their own opinion instead of just the offenders opinions and get a real un-biased opinion on it all. I will be contacting citywatch as soon as possible to try and have a contract signed with them, after all with the amount of publicity they get from selfish people they have clamped they must be good at their jobs and run an effective service.

While I can understand the argument John de large is making, the fact that he doesn't appear to have commented here before coupled with the obvious enthusiasm and defence of Citywatch makes me suspicious. For someone who feels powerless to stop people parking on your property, you seem to know a lot about the process which makes your comments sound more like a testimonial to me. Even a basic google search for Citywatch clamping shows 2 pages of results all complaining about Citywatch before their own website is even listed. That (and their website being down) doesn't sound like a company operating an effective service to me.

it was whilst looking for citywatch on the net that i came across this site, ive never been on here before and very rarely would comment on a site anyway. Obviously im going to do some research on a company before i use them or employ them but all i can find on citywatch is complaints from people who have been clamped themselves, there are no comments from people who use their services so obviously,as i see it anyway, they must do a good job. if you can show me a complaint from a company using them then fair enough but i cant personally find any.in all honesty so far as i can see it, if citywatch put the warning board on my drive,due to the publicity theyve had people probably wont park on my drive anyway, so happy days all round