Rogue clampers given a 'licence to print money', says AA chief

An estimated 520,000 motorists had their cars clamped on private land in Britain last year and are believed to have paid more than £770million in fines to clampers.

According to the AA, an estimated 20,000 cars are towed away every year.

An estimated 520,000 motorists had their cars clamped on private land in Britain last year

The Home Office established the SIA (Security Industry Authority) to license security staff, the nightclub industry and private clampers and towing firms in an effort to counter criminal elements.

But flaws in the system make it 'a nonsense', claimed Edmund King, president of the AA.

'Once you've got a licence, there are no guidelines that tell you how much you can charge, whether you have to charge cash, credit card, how you will accept it, what your signs should look like,' he said.

'So you get a licence but then you basically make up the rules. It really is a nonsense of a licensing system.

Edmund King, president of the AA, says the private clamping system as 'nonsense'

'In many respects the licensing has made the situation worse because it makes clampers seem semi-official.

'They have a government licence and they are not content now just to clamp.

'They'll clamp, they'll tow away, they'll charge for phone calls, they'll charge for whatever they like.

'It's a government backed licence to print money'

The AA is urging the Government to make clamping on private land illegal which has been the case in Scotland since 1992.

The call comes following an undercover investigation by ITV1's Tonight programme Carry on Clamping.

In the broadcast, reporter Ginny Buckley highlights a range of rogue practices by clampers.

The SIA defended its record.

It said it had revoked more than 40 licences over the last three years and it had alerted police and local authorities to criminal activity not covered by the Private Security Industry Act.