Measures introduced to protect Civil Enforcement Officers

Haringey Council is introducing measures to tackle the abuse faced by Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) while at work.

The ‘Driving Out Violence’ campaign also aims to highlight the crucial role they play in maintaining parking regulations and ensuring community safety.

As front-line workers of our community, CEOs are responsible for enforcing parking rules, a job that is crucial for small businesses to ensure that their customers can find parking and for Blue Badge holders who require designated spaces.

Officers also lead on combating Blue Badge fraud and addressing obstructive and dangerous parking to keep roads and pavements accessible for everyone, including pedestrians and emergency vehicles.

Cllr Seema Chandwani, cabinet member for resident services and tackling inequality at Haringey Council, stated: “Our Civil Enforcement Officers are vital members of our community. Without them, emergency vehicles wouldn't be able to reach people in an emergency, customers wouldn’t be able to attend our local businesses, and our Blue Badge holders wouldn’t be able to use the disabled spaces they need to maintain their freedom.

“We don't want to hand out parking tickets, however we do want to keep our borough safe and accessible for everyone. Our officers are just trying to do their jobs and support their families. They are real people with real feelings, and they do not deserve the abuse they are currently facing day to day.”

Since January 2023, Haringey’s Civil Enforcement Officers have reported 47 incidents classified as Code Red, which involves situations where officers feel in imminent danger of physical attack or have been physically harmed.

Additionally, there have been 30 Code Yellow incidents involving verbal abuse or attempts to prevent officers from issuing Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs).

The new campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of respecting CEOs and reducing the number of abusive incidents they face. 

The council said they hoped that by shedding light on these challenges, the community will gain a better understanding of the essential work carried out by these officers and the importance of their safety.