Private Parking Code of Practice

Parking Control Management (UK) Ltd Statement

The government’s long-awaited Private Parking Code of Practice has now been published and the industry has had the opportunity to digest the provisions it sets out. Parking Control Management (UK) Ltd has always welcomed the introduction of this Code and wishes to thank all those who assisted in its creation and passing into law.

Particularly, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the International Parking Community (IPC), who have not only worked tirelessly in conjunction with the government on the Code, but have long-championed the raising of standards within the industry. The IPC’s own Code of Practices have ensured its members are in a strong position to transition to the new Code, given many of the government’s provisions mirror that of the IPC’s.

PCM have been active in their approach to the Code, engaging strongly with the public consultation and gathering support from landowners in this too. With its final publication, while we believe it will ultimately be a good thing for the industry, we too recognise the challenges ahead. Aside from the logistical difficulties of ensuring our some 4000 sites are compliant by the expiration of the transition period in 2024, there are some clauses within the Code that may create loopholes for parking abuse. We are working hard to adapt our processes and ethos to tighten such loopholes as far as reasonably possible. This shift in processes will inevitably mean changes for our clients and we will be in touch in the coming months to discuss the practicalities of these changes on a site-by-site basis.

One of our greatest concerns from the publication of the Code is the high probability of some parking operators choosing not to comply with its provisions and for want of a better phrase, ‘going rogue’. Adoption of the Code is optional and mandatory only should you wish to access DVLA data to pursue parking charges; therefore, a reliance on ‘honesty payments’ may be a viable option for some organisations. However, any operator choosing this route will ultimately be unregulated in the absence of any Code of Practice, free to set the charge at any level and issue charges in essentially any manner they seem fit.

The publication of the Code undoubtedly marks a turning point in the industry, allowing operators, like PCM, to completely review and revitalise every site managed. It is also hoped that the pervasive myth that the industry is unregulated will also somewhat subside for companies adopting the provisions of the Code, bringing a greater public perception of legitimacy and in turn, a greater respect for parking rules on private land.

What history has taught us is that our industry is robust, surviving many periods of turbulence and ambiguity. Therefore, we are sure that all those affected by the changes will adapt and grow into the Code, and our industry will be in a better place for it.