Police crackdown on illegal parking

In one instance, PC Roy Warren, Neighbourhood Police Team member for the town centre, watched a driver double-park in Devonshire Road in order to go into a bank.

"He was a driving instructor, too!" said PC Warren.

Under the new Neighbourhood Police Team system, officers are conducting panel meetings with community members to establish the community's priorities. One of the most frequently-discussed problems in the town centre is rogue parking.

As a result, PC Warren is now issuing more fixed penalty notices for illegal parking in the town centre.

On an average day, this can mean that between six and 10 drivers receive parking tickets.

Speaking on Sunday, PC Warren said: Yesterday, I issued 12.

"People are even deliberately parking illegally right in front of me.

This is happening in particular on the new taxi ranks in Devonshire Road and outside the banks - and that includes the driving instructor..."

Similar enforcement action is being taken at Sidley by its Neighbourhood Police Team member, PC Steve Croft and by the Sidley Police Community Support Officer, Darren Owen.

PC Warren also has responsibility for Pebsham, where panel members have identified speeding in residential estate streets like Seabourne Road as a problem.

Speed checks are planned in the area. Speeding drivers face a 60 fixed penalty fee plus three points on their licences.