2009 press releases

9th July: Local MP demands car clamping on private land be banned

Local MP Norman Baker is calling for car clamping on private land, such as the car park next to Laura Ashley in Lewes to be outlawed, as it is in Scotland.

The call comes after research by Norman Baker in his capacity as Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Transport has shown that some car clampers are receiving up to £50 per vehicle commission.

Speaking on the issue, Norman said: "It is quite wrong that there should be financial incentives for private companies to go round clamping vehicles. In my view clamping should only be carried out by public bodies such as the police or councils, or agents acting for them on a fixed contract basis, with income unrelated to the number of vehicles clamped.

"It is outrageous that a private company, whose income may be directly related to the number of clamps put on vehicles, can demand huge sums from motorists, who may well have committed no offence or infringed no parking conditions, which then must be paid before a clamp is removed. In other cases, such as with parking tickets, a motorist has a right of appeal to the courts. With clamps, they have to pay up there and then if they want their car back, no matter how exorbitant the fee, and even if they think it has been wrongly issued.

"The Scottish courts have outlawed clamping by private companies, calling it extortion. England should follow suit."

Notes

1. In Scotland wheel clamping on private land is considered extortion and theft since the 1992 court ruling on Anor v Carmichael. The law on extortion is different in England and Wales and the judgement does not apply in England and Wales.
2. Although Norman Baker has discovered that some clamping companies are charging £50 commission in some cases, it has not been determined whether or not this is the case with the example in Lewes.

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