Not yet a smooth operator
Regulation of the private parking companies is almost universally popular but, as Penny Winder points out, the Approved Operator Scheme still has some rough edges
S
tandards in the parking industry have moved on in leaps and bounds in recent years, and
that has to be a good thing both for the customer and the parking industry. After all, an ever-growing
number of people are motorists and need to park regularly, so efficient parking management is a must to avoid a severe
professional, but we are still all too familiar with media headlines about ‘clamping cowboys’ and so on.
Sorting the good from the bad
Te government-endorsed Approved Operator Scheme (AOS), which is supported by the BPA Code of Practice, is a good thing in terms of constraining the minority of
In contrast to the detailed
legislation for the publicly-run ‘on’ and ‘off’ street parking industry, few standards are applied to parking facilities on private land. Te AOS begins to address
this gap and fits within the BPA’s five-year strategy, which highlights the desire to set and raise standards within the industry further while supporting the needs of the consumer.
How the scheme works
Te AOS framework covers private owners and operators who conduct a range of services. Tese services can include wheel clamping
Is this over-complicated and bureaucratic for the private parking sector, and is there a danger that the public could become confused?
effect on traffic congestion and, hence, on the life-blood of our towns, cities and countryside. Many of us agree that our
media image deserves to be better than it often is, but within the industry there is recognition that areas are still ripe for improvement. Standards and customer
service are improving and the majority of players are very
26 MAY 2010
‘bad apples’ and in raising and standardising quality levels in this important and unregulated private sector. At Alpha Parking we
welcome this, yet we have concerns that, if not properly managed, problems could pose real risks to the credibility of the whole scheme. Here is some background to give our concerns some context.
and vehicle removal, or enforcement by ticketing or automatic number plate recognition cameras, and ‘back office’ functions such as data management and debt recovery. Any member operator of
the BPA involved in parking enforcement on private land must join the AOS scheme. Te attraction of doing so, and meeting the standards set out
by the AOS, is that it allows access to the DVLA database, vital to access car registration details in order to obtain payment for an outstanding charge.
Tis is because, last November, the Transport Minister announced that, from April 2010, all trade operators needing details from the DVLA database, including those who operate on private land, must become members of an accredited trade association. Within the parking industry, this means the BPA/AOS. In addition, the Crime and
Security Bill was given Royal Assent before Parliament was dissolved. Te new Act introduces company licensing for clamping companies who operate on private land. Previously, only individuals were required to be licensed. Under the plans, to qualify
for a licence all clamping companies must be licensed by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), and abide by an enforceable Code of Practice, such as the AOS. So this is a marvellous
opportunity to raise standards within such a key part of the developing parking industry! Te BPA, with the AOS,
www.britishparking.co.uk
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