ENFORCEMENT SPECIAL S P O T L GI H T Bridge
All pulling in the same direction
Councils and bailiff teams must work together to provide a service that is efficient and has integrity. So said the director of Marston Group, Alan Clark: ‘If there is a lack of shared experience or a lack of mutual understanding, then there will be a failure to understand and respect how each side of the service works,’ he added. He challenged the local authority delegates on how many had been on the street with a bailiff, knew about legislation dealing with stress, or knew very much about civil debt enforcement. Clark said that a bailiff’s clients needed to understand that, ultimately, the transaction had to be profitable for the enforcement company.
In return the bailiffs had to respect the clients, listen to their needs and to act with integrity when dealing with debtors. An efficient service could be provided if all the parties involved developed a greater understanding of each other’s working operations and desired outcomes.
www.britishparking.co.uk
Joined-up thinking in Nottingham
Civil enforcement officers not only enforcing parking regulations but also helping to crack down on anti-social behaviour, preventing vandalism or providing support to a victim of crime – this is the vision of a joined-up community strategy from one city council. A new partnership-project, known as Community Protection, has been set up in Nottingham – and it aims to change the community landscape in the city. The idea was born from a need to crack down on anti-social behaviour and environmental crime in Nottingham. The partnership is comprised of Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire Police, drawing on shared tools and powers and a support-network of specialists, working towards a safer and cleaner city. The programme is driven by the dual targets of efficient services and low costs. So, in a bid to get ‘more bang for the buck’, departments are pooling resources to provide a comprehensive community service. Nottingham City Council’s director of community services Andrew Errington spoke of the need for a long-term partnership between agencies working to keep streets clear of rubbish, vandalism, illegally parked cars and crime. Civil enforcement teams would work alongside, among others, the police, trading standards, youth intervention teams and environmental health to provide services and share resources.
Errington explained: ‘The police infrastructure meets enforcement requirements. Our enforcement officers can use police IT systems – it just makes sense to use the police facilities and knowledge. ‘This is a single vision for compliance and enforcement, and it relies on a good working relationship between the police and the council,’ he added. As a result, the enforcement teams are now housed within the police headquarters, they hold joint briefings and work together to follow a single vision for civil justice. Officers from the community protection team provide a local presence in every neighbourhood of Nottingham and the network of specialist departments means that, whatever the anti-social behaviour or enviro-crime issue, the team will be equipped to help.
AUGUST 2010
37
PARKING REVIEW/PATRICK MCDONNELL
PARKING REVIEW/PATRICK MCDONNELL
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