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Parking wardens across the South East of England have come forward to share harrowing accounts of the abuse and violence they encounter while working. This follows a BBC investigation uncovering more than 200 recorded physical assaults on parking enforcement officers in Kent, Surrey, and Sussex since 2020. Some staff recount serious incidents including being punched and subjected to sexual harassment, underlining the dangers faced by frontline workers in roles that often go overlooked.
One civil enforcement officer (CEO) from Brighton and Hove, Finn Gregory, described his own experiences with aggression. During his two years on the job, he has faced threats and physical attacks. “Someone came up to me speaking nonsensically, I didn’t understand what he was saying,” Gregory explained. “I tried to leave and as I turned my back he struck me in my lower back.” He expressed the grim reality of wondering whether an attack might occur on any given shift, emphasizing that their role is about managing traffic rather than provoking conflict.
Verbal and sexual abuse also play a significant part in the challenges these workers endure. Stephanie, a customer service supervisor working for a council contractor, detailed instances of being followed, sexually harassed, and insulted. She also revealed that some colleagues have faced dangerous situations such as cars being driven aggressively towards them out of anger, with no guarantee the drivers would stop. Another enforcement officer, Lumi, shared that verbal abuse can be a near-daily occurrence during her late shifts, adding that incidents of sexual harassment have been “quite disgusting.” She noted that body-worn cameras have helped deter some offenders by recording these encounters.
Data gathered through Freedom of Information requests to councils in the South East paints a concerning picture. More than 130 physical assaults were documented in Sussex between 2020 and 2024, alongside 83 cases in Kent and fewer in Surrey. Across the region, 46 instances were categorized specifically as “physical abuse,” while 24 councils confirmed that officers are now equipped with body-worn video cameras to improve their safety. Campaigners, including the Institute of Customer Service, are urging the government to broaden legal protections, advocating for a standalone offence covering assaults on all customer-facing workers, not just retail staff. Chief executive Jo Causon stated, “We want it to be a deterrent,” highlighting the scale of the issue affecting over 60% of the workforce.
Local authorities such as Brighton & Hove City Council have launched initiatives like the Beyond the Uniform campaign to raise awareness and reduce abuse of enforcement officers. Councillor Trevor Muten expressed concern over the levels of verbal and physical abuse faced by these staff, but also noted the positive impact of such campaigns, reporting a 25% reduction in abuse over the past year. Meanwhile, the government maintains that existing laws, particularly an aggravating factor introduced under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, already provide for harsher sentencing when assaults are committed against public-facing workers. A Home Office spokesperson emphasized that this law sends a clear signal that violence against workers — including parking wardens — will not be tolerated
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