A policeman with bolt croppers is battling to try and free an unmarked police car after it was clamped by zealous parking enforcers. This film shows the officer’s vain bid to release the clamp after a colleague’s car was immobilised.
The unmarked police car was parked at Eureka Place while an officer was investigating a crime in Ashford. But it was left outside a designated bay, despite warning signs. In the end it had to be transported back to Ashford Police Station, with the clampers called to free it and Kent Police paying a £200 charge.
The extraordinary scene has provoked a row over clamping at the new retail parade. Martin Harries, manager of the clamping company Parking Control Services, said: "We cannot clamp marked police cars but this was an unmarked one. Why should the police be different to anybody else?"
The extraordinary saga began on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 15 when a scenes-of-crimes officer in a unmarked police silver Peugeot 206 arrived at Eureka Place, Trinity Road, to follow up an investigation. The plain clothes woman officer left the car near the Pheasant pub, but it was outside the marked bays despite signs forbidding this and warning of 24-hour clamping and £200 charges.
PCS workers immobilised the car and when this was discovered uniformed officers were called in to help. The company says officers phoned them and told them to immediately free the car. When PCS refused, a uniformed policeman set about trying to open the clamp with a pair of bolt croppers. The police say they are taking action against PCS.
Chief Inspector John Frayne said in a statement: "The company refused to remove the clamp and subsequently the vehicle was recovered to Ashford police station. The clamping company have since removed the clamp and the matter is subject to legal proceedings."
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