Rookies

It’s a fact that Parking Enforcers fresh out of training hand out the most Parking tickets and also make the most mistakes. They also have very high cancellation rates, which is the measure us old timers tend to go by (Bloody hell, I’ve been in the job over three years and I’m an ‘old timer’). When we first started to ‘clean up Dodge’ because of the clogged streets and occasional fist fights (Honest!) over parking places it was utter mayhem. There are a few decriminalised Parking schemes coming on line and I’ll lay odds that the first 18 months are going to prove the toughest for the new kids on the block.

Enforcement of whatever kind is, and never will be a popular job, and those who do it suffer a high rate of attrition because of the threats and assaults. To be honest, I think our management are surprised at how long some of us have lasted under the pressure.

As for the various ‘decrim’ schemes; in the beginning, at least with private contractors, they all try the ‘These-are-your-targets-and-you-will-meet-them-or-be-sacked’ approach with the PA’s, which never work long term. Even one of the more notorious London Councils (Lambeth) is publicly discontinuing the practice. Calderdale Council near Huddersfield have taken note and will be (Allegedly) trying the ‘Softly, softly’ approach and it looks like Rugby in Warwickshire is gearing up for their first parking blitz.

Whatever happens at these places, I don’t envy the rookies.