'Hypocrite' parking officers still breaking the law

4:07pm Friday 18th July 2008

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Parking officers continue to stop illegally outside a Tooting curry house despite being exposed on this website last week.

They were snapped again at 2.25pm on Wednesday in a red route loading bay in Dafforne Road, where a witness says they stopped for lunch at Chatkhara restaurant.

“They are such hypocrites. Other people who park there get tickets.”

Anonymous witness

Last week when officers were caught doing this their employer, NCP Services, said using loading bays for lunch breaks would stop.

A witness said: "They are such hypocrites. Other people who park there get tickets. The only thing they are loading is their bellies."

NCP Services works on behalf of the council to punish rule-breaking motorists but its staff are obliged to obey the same rules as everyone else when not carrying out duties.

Spokesman Tim Cowen said all drivers were reminded of red route rules last week but the man in question was an agency worker and therefore not present for the briefing.

He added the official had stopped to use the toilet and that his colleague waited in the vehicle, but has now been reminded this is not allowed.

He said: "Nevertheless he is well aware of the rules and should have observed them. We have pointed out to him that we will not be using him again if there are any further occasions when parking restrictions are not respected."

Transport for London, which manages the red route, was informed last week that NCP Services vehicles regularly break the law in Dafforne Road but have so far failed to stop it.

When asked why the drivers had not been caught and punished, TFL failed to respond and a spokesman instead said: "We have contacted NCP about this case to reiterate the purpose for which they can park in restricted areas."

Stopping in the loading bay between 7am and 7pm on a week day is only allowed if the driver is loading or unloading, and this does not apply to fetching lunch or going to the toilet.