Officer finds his marked police car clamped
Discussion
ananova said:
Officer finds his marked police car clamped
A police officer returned from investigating a burglary to find his marked patrol car had been clamped.
PC Mark Doble, of Yeovil, Somerset, was told he'd have to pay £60 to have the clamp removed from the Ford Focus.
He'd parked the vehicle in a private car park while he looked into a break-in at a probation office.
Clamper Dave Stoodley told the officer he shouldn't have parked where he did because the call wasn't an emergency. PC Doble and two other officers he'd called for called for assistance wasted an hour arguing with Stoodley.
The clamp was finally removed when the car park owner agreed to waive the fee, says The Sun.
Police Inspector Mike Edwards said: "I'm astounded a marked liveried police vehicle could be clamped. It's totally irresponsible. The officer could have had to respond to an emergency."
Stoodley, of clamping firm YVC, still insists he was right. "Why should the police have special privileges?," he said.
Agreed that clampers are twats - but I don't think it is the clamping issue here - i think it is more along the lines of some bitter twisted twat just taking an opportunity to have a pop at the cops - there is no real other reason as clamping an emergency vehicle is just stupid - and actually, most clampers probably wouldn't clamp a cop car unless there was a personal issue.
chrisgr31 said:
Mind you why did the police man park the car in a private car park? The report implies that the car park did not belong to the building that was broken into so why didn't the police man just park on the street?
Fair call but as a copper and if given the option - why cause congestion when there is a perfectly good car park - private or not.
tdth1975 said:
Mind you why did the police man park the car in a private car park? The report implies that the car park did not belong to the building that was broken into so why didn't the police man just park on the street?
Fair call but as a copper and if given the option - why cause congestion when there is a perfectly good car park - private or not.
Because a member of the public, who may well have a more opinion of the police because he has been cameraed, or not had them attend a burgalry etc, is probably entitled to park in that space. Their opinion of the police is likely to be even lower if they can't park in their designated space!
Yes if the car park was attached to the building he was investigating park in the car park, but if it is not don't, as it could upset someone else. After all the owner of the car park is probably saying something like "Coppers think they own the place, parked in my private car park, but took them 3 days to come to my break in".
By the way I know the police have a difficult job, and the matters that upset the oublic are outside their control.
benp said:
i thought that if a private clamping firm attached a clamp to your car you were well within your rights to sue for criminal dmage etc etc. For the life of me i can`t rmember where i read it or if it is a myth
That very point has often crossed my mind. Fortunately I have never had a car clamped, but if it were to happen and I found my car had suffered damage to wing edges etc., surely the clampers would be liable wouldn't they? I imagine cars could easily suffer damage of that sort while heavy and rough items like wheel clamps are being fitted or removed.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
I think, but I'm not absolutely sure, that if you are clamped in a private car park and there aer not prominent signs warning you that unauthorised parking may result in clamping, then clamping is classed as 'criminal damage'. Also classed as criminal damage would be sticking one of the paper self-adhesive stickers onto the screen, as you then can't see out.
"Send for Angle-Grinder Man"
"Send for Angle-Grinder Man"
I wasnt just making it up then!! The blokes who operate these firms are usually 20 odd stone and just rely on intimidation to get you to pay up there and then. I have a friend who handed over £100 even though she was legitimately parked just cos she was so scared on the hairy great bloke who clamped her car.
similar thing was discussed some time ago.
Basically private property paid for someone else, why should the police use it for free? They shouldnt park there and cause a loss/inconvenience to the car park owner/user.
They have no right to use someones elses land just becasue its more convenient for them.
Basically private property paid for someone else, why should the police use it for free? They shouldnt park there and cause a loss/inconvenience to the car park owner/user.
They have no right to use someones elses land just becasue its more convenient for them.
If I were a clamper and had just been done 3 points for 32 in a 30 then I would probably love to stick a legitimate clamp on any official car - especially a marked police car.
I am not suggesting that this clamper had points but statistically many of them must.
I wonder why they relented in the end and is it a tactic anybody could try?
I am not suggesting that this clamper had points but statistically many of them must.
I wonder why they relented in the end and is it a tactic anybody could try?
mungo said:
People like you will be the first to moan if we are late to get to you while you are being burgled / beaten up and we can't get to you on time because we can't park...
We are exactly what it says on the tin "Emergency services"
My impression was that when on an emergency call the police parked anywhere, even in the middle of the road, so afraid that arguement doesn't wash.
no im the sort to moan when I own and pay for a car parking space which is then occupied by a car that shouldnt be there. Its depriving the owner of the land of an income/ taking away his legal right to park on his own property. Police or otherwise.
You are not suggesting that the police should intimidate the public to have freebees - are you Mungo?
If it was an emergency as said earlier ie flashing lights then of course its not an issue but then the police would stop in the road and jump out and catch the criminal - I would hope.
How would you feel if they parked their car in your driveway at home so you could not park?
>> Edited by superlightr on Friday 20th August 14:28
You are not suggesting that the police should intimidate the public to have freebees - are you Mungo?
If it was an emergency as said earlier ie flashing lights then of course its not an issue but then the police would stop in the road and jump out and catch the criminal - I would hope.
How would you feel if they parked their car in your driveway at home so you could not park?
>> Edited by superlightr on Friday 20th August 14:28
mungo said:
What I am saying is we need to park somewhere to get out and do our job. If we are not doing our job then the public would have far more to moan about.
You and the rest of the world.
Customers moan all the time. In this case the public are your customers.
If I have to go to fix a customers machine and spend 20 minutes looking for a parking space then walking two thirds of a mile with a box of tricks, they are pretty hacked off and don't care I am soaked and in need of a coffee, they just want their world to return to normal.
>> Edited by Liszt on Friday 20th August 14:47
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff