By John James
Published: 19:35 AEDT, 21 October 2024 | Updated: 21:43 AEDT, 21 October 2024
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Parking wardens across the country are being attacked by angry motorists with frightening regularity with some unfortunate inspectors being doused in urine, pelted with eggs or shot at with paintball guns whilst trying to do their jobs.
Since being introduced in the 1960s, parting wardens have been widely maligned by motorists who often view their costly infractions as opportunistic money making by their local councils.
However, despite fulfilling a vital role in keeping Britain's transport infrastructure running smoothly, attacks on wardens are now frighteningly high.
Shocking FOI data obtained by the Telegraph has revealed that 660 wardens were attacked while performing their duties in the year 2022-23 - a year in which local authorities collected £962 million in tickets.
Local councils claim their officers were beaten, driven at, threatened with knives, shot at with BB guns, strangled, kicked and assaulted with traffic cones.
Attacks on parking wardens by members of the public are on the rise
In Reading, after punching a warden three times in a face, one motorist pulled a knife and threatened the officer.
In Oldham, an inspector was first beaten and then dragged down the road and kicked by a driver.
Last year in Croydon, a warden's leg was broken after he as beaten by a mob who then stole his ticketing machine.
Disturbingly, many assaults on wardens have taken place in broad daylight and been filmed by members of the public who haven't intervened.
Last year in Manor Park, east London, a traffic warden was left with a broken finger after being set upon by a furious driver.
After taking photos of the man's van, the enraged driver, who is dressed in hi-vis, grabs a wooden pole and starts attacking the officer, smacking him twice before the stick snaps.
The traffic warden is then seen punching the man to the floor before the fight is broken up by a third man.
Police said the warden suffered a broken finger and the other man was arrested.
The vicious brawl between the traffic warden and angry driver was captured on camera by a passerby
Police said the warden suffered a broken finger and the other man was arrested. The matter has since been resolved using a community resolution
In another video, shot in 2016, a warden seems visibly distressed as he is filmed by a passerby during a parking conflict.
The incident, which took place in 2023, was investigated by West Midlands Police which arrested the man, who was later convicted of assault in October of that year and sentenced to a community order.
Coventry City Council said aggressive incidents, including staff being punched, kicked and spat at, had doubled in the past four years.
In another video shot in the city, a traffic warden was physically attacked by a furious motorist for ticketing his illegally parked van.
The civil enforcement officer was hurled to the ground after he slapped the motorist with a penalty charge while patrolling in the Foleshill area of Coventry.
The driver immediately leaves the van after seeing the ticket placed on his windscreen and angrily tells the officer: 'I was moving mate', before pushing him in the chest.
The video recorded on the warden's body camera captures him crying out 'did you see that?' as he is shoved to the pavement during the confrontation.
His colleague then tries to intervene and is also verbally and physically assaulted during the heated dispute on Victory Road in June last year.
A van driver (left) in Coventry goes to confront a traffic warden after having a parking ticket placed on his windscreen and is filmed pushing the officer to the ground in a heated dispute
The body camera footage shows the driver verbally and physically assault two council officers on Victory Road
In Birmingham last year, shocking footage emerged of a parking warden being kneed in the face by a thug.
Upon leaving a nearby pub, Corneille, who runs a roofing business, shouted 'l'll smack your f***ing head in, alright fat boy, alright fat boy' at Mr Lawrence.
He then shoved the traffic warden in the back with two hands using his 'full force', which was captured on both CCTV and by Mr Lawrence's body-worn camera.
Mr Lawrence had already placed the ticket on Corneille's car, which was at around 4pm.
But before he had a chance to turn around he felt a hard push on his back and shoulder, causing him to fall to the ground.
He was unable to cushion his impact as his hands were by his face, taking a picture of Corneille's car, prosecutor Dominic Connolly said.
The father-of-two was then shoved a second time into an Indian restaurant window, which injured his shoulder and damaged his glasses.
Corneille then stood over the traffic warden and placed his hands around his head and neck before then pushing him to the ground again.
The 47-year-old, who had been in the pub with his girlfriend, then drove away from the scene. He was arrested a week later.
Following the attack, Mr Lawrence was left in excruciating pain and could not pull himself up from the pavement.
He was unable to drive or work for six weeks and had to rely on his wife to perform basic tasks for him, including washing and dressing him, as well as cutting up his food.
In 2014, a traffic warden was left fighting for his life in hospital after he was savagely beaten by a driver because he gave the man a parking ticket.
The warden, who was in his 40s, was hit over the head with a piece of wood in Bounds Green, north London.
Police say they arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of GBH half an hour after the attack, while the victim remains in a 'serious but stable' condition.
An anonymous source who spoke to the Evening Standard at the time said: 'I broke them up but the warden continued to fight as well. At one point the warden picked up the man and threw him.
'At another stage the warden was on the ground and the man was repeatedly punching him in the face. It was really sickening. He is lucky to be alive.'
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group