About Us

Contact Details

email: Parking @harlow.gov.uk

We can be contacted at the following address

Parking Services

Harlow Council

Civic Centre

The Water Gardens

Harlow

CM20 1WG

What we do

We administer the Civil Parking Enforcement scheme in Harlow within the Civil Enforcement Area (Whole of Harlow except the M11). We have a team of Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) patrolling the streets and issuing Penalty Charge Notices and a back office team to handle correspondence and telephone enquiries. The back office team also process applications for permits and permit renewals. Regulation 10 Postal PCNs are issued from the back office and all challenges to PCNs are processed here.

This website has been developed to help inform motorists and residents about the various services we provide and to provide information about the new parking regulations that will come into force on 31^st March 2008, under the Traffic Management Act 2004. We have provided links to a number of useful sources of information to help you park correctly and avoid getting a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

Uniforms

Civil Enforcement Officers must wear the correct uniform whilst on duty. The Department for Transport has published Operational Guidance which sets out various operational procedures that Local Authorities must follow. Chapter 8 of the Guidance covers Enforcement Activities. Paragraph 8.4 sets out Uniform requirements.

Uniforms

8.4 When exercising prescribed functions a CEO must wear a uniform.

The uniform should be readily distinguishable from those worn by the police and traffic warden services, and clearly show:

that the wearer is engaged in parking enforcement;

the name of the local authority/authorities of whose behalf s/he is acting;

and a personal identity number.

8.5 The "specified" functions to which the requirement to wear a uniform applies are the issuing of PCNs on street and the authorising or carrying out of immobilisation or the removal of vehicles within a CEA. Where the actual immobilisation or removal of a vehicle is carried out by someone acting under the direction of a civil enforcement officer, that other person is not subject to any requirements as to his or her uniform. However, given the poor reputation of some of the firms that carry out immobilisation on private land, the authority may wish to consider putting in their contract with the firm the need for clear identification of individuals and the enforcement authority for whom they are working.

8.6 If appropriate headgear such as a hat is part of the uniform that the authority decides to use, the civil enforcement officer should wear it at all reasonable times, unless unable to do so for religious reasons, It should be noted that a PCN is valid even if it is issued when a civil enforcement officer is not wearing appropriate headgear.

Photo Identity Cards

The Operational Guidance also recommends that CEOs carry a photo-identity card. Harlow will adopt this recommendation.

8.7 It is recommended that CEOs carry a photo-identity card, showing their identification number and the name of their employer. However, to protect the safety of staff, it is strongly recommended that the photo-identity card does not include the CEO’s name on it.

Staff Protection Policy

We treat very seriously any verbal or physical abuse of our Civil Enforcement Officers CEOs and will report all incidents to the Police. All our staff carry radios and are in regular contact with base. Police Officers will be called to the scene of any incident.

Harlow’s Civil Enforcement Officers CEOs are employed by the Local Authority to carry out enforcement duties which are designed to improve the flow of traffic, keep the roads safer and protect parking spaces for specific users such as disabled blue badge holders and resident permit holders. Without their work, parking would be unregulated and would lead to traffic and parking chaos. Our CEOs are paid a fixed salary and are not on any bonus system for issue of Penalty Charge Notices. They are trained to issue Penalty Charge Notices according to a strict set of rules and once a PCN has been issued CEOs do not have the authority to cancel it. Our CEOs are always willing to explain parking rules to the motorist but if the matter cannot be resolved, you must put the matter in writing to us at the address above.

Exercise of Discretion

The Operational Guidance sets out the general Exercise of Discretion Principles as follows:

The Exercise of Discretion

6.17 The Secretary of State considers that the exercise of discretion should, in the main, rest with back office staff as part of considering challenges against PCNs and representations against NtOs. This is to protect CEOs from allegations of inconsistency, favouritism or suspicion of bribery. It also gives greater consistency in the enforcement of traffic regulations.

6.18 However, the enforcement authority may wish to set out certain situations when a CEO should not issue a PCN. For example, an enforcement authority may wish to consider issuing a verbal warning rather than a PCN to a driver who has committed a minor contravention and is still with, or returns to, the vehicle before a PCN has been served. The enforcement authority should have clear policies, instructions and training for CEOs on how to exercise such authority. These policies should form the basis for staff training and should be published.

Staff Training & Qualifications

All of our Civil Enforcement Officers have been fully trained and were amongst the first in the Country to obtain the City and Guilds 1885 Level 2 Certificate for Parking Attendants. In addition, they receive regular refresher training which keeps them fully up to date with the latest legislation. The training also equips our CEOs with the necessary interpersonal, conflict resolution and oral communication skills to perform their jobs effectively and without undue stress or personal danger. Our staff have excellent local knowledge and are always willing to help with directions.

Specifically, details of training requirements for CEOs can be found in the Operational Guidance.

Training

6.19 Enforcement authorities should ensure that CEOs are properly trained to enforce parking controls fairly, accurately and consistently. As well as formal training, it is recommended that authorities include some supervised on-street training to familiarise CEOs with the area and any special parking provisions. Enforcement authorities should make sure that CEOs understand all relevant exemptions, such as those applying to diplomatic vehicles and the Blue Badges issued to disabled people. CEOs should be aware of their powers to inspect Blue Badges and the sensitivity required should they need to exercise them.

6.20 It is recommended that all CEOs achieve minimum standards through recognised training courses. Authorities should recognise the importance of their own role in ensuring that suitable personnel are recruited and provided with appropriate training, equipment, guidance and supervision.

6.21 Formalised qualifications exist for CEOs, including the NVQ in parking control. It is recommended that new and existing CEOs hold the level 2 nationally accredited qualification, which is listed on the national qualification framework (or future equivalents) and cross-referenced to the national occupational standard in parking control. The national qualifications in existence for CEOs are the S/NVQ in Parking Control and the City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for Civil Enforcement Officers (Parking). Authorities should ensure that the training of CEOs equips them with the necessary interpersonal, conflict resolution and oral communication skills to perform their jobs effectively and without undue stress or personal danger. Refresher training should be undertaken regularly. Training may be based on such existing qualifications or other similar ones that may be developed, but they should always be supplemented by further training relevant to local needs and policies.