Parking attendants in Rutherglen to be fitted with cameras
Jun 13 2012
by Douglas Dickie, Rutherglen Reformer
PARKING attendants in Rutherglen and Cambuslang have been fitted with cameras to try to stop them being attacked.
The workers have found themselves the victims of both physical and verbal assaults as they go about their jobs.
Last year in South Lanarkshire, one attendant was spat on, one had a drinks can thrown at him from a moving vehicle while another had a lit cigarette butt flicked at them.
These incidents are in addition to daily verbal assaults from disgruntled drivers.
The cameras will be around the size of a credit card and worn on the chest of the attendant. They will be activated at the start of the attendant’s shift.
The uniform will also make it clear that recording is taking place.
Perth and Kinross Council first introduced “body-worn” CCTV a couple of years ago and have found it has made a huge difference to the safety and morale of parking attendants.
Glasgow City Council's arm’s-length parking company also introduced the body cameras earlier this year.
Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Chris Thompson, said: “Our parking attendants should be able to go about their duties without the threat of verbal or physical assault.
“Parking restrictions are in place for a reason and our attendants are simply enforcing the legislation.
“To be subjected to physical and verbal assaults for doing this is not something we as a council are prepared to tolerate.
“I hope that the introduction of these cameras will provide a significant deterrent to anyone who thinks this kind of behaviour is acceptable.
“We will not hesitate to hand the recordings over to police if we feel the incident merits investigation.”
All 16 parking attendants in South Lanarkshire will have the cameras attached to their uniforms. The CCTV began operation on Monday.
