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As far as i was aware, whilst working under ambulance terms it is illegal to clamp a working ambulance vehicle under the obstruction of emergency services vehicles act. even though this is not an emergency ambulance it still comes under those brackets i think. a ticket could
have been used however as this does not constitute obstruction. i cant believe that someone would clamp an ambulance. i hope next time he falls sick the ambulance is delayed because of something like this.

- Michael, Yorkshire

My friend has sued LPC Ltd. Any one who can shed light on this cowboy one man band will be welcome. Any statements will be apprecaited and in retunn, my friend and I can be a witness for anyone elses court case. On the hearing on 28th May, 09, at Ilford County Court, LPC's Director, Daniel Blackwood, who hide his standing in LPC, came late and informed the judge that the car had been scraped and as such, they couldnt comply with the court order to return the car. He was unable to produce any documents that he stayed were in LPC possesion, and stated that he was waiting for them from the office! what a lier.

- Nadeem Ayub, London UK

I put my life savings on it the retard who did this was not born in this country. Seriously where do these people grow up?

- Nick G, London

Looks like LPC are becoming a regular feature on this site! Didn’t I read about them here a few weeks ago? What a ludicrous comment by LPC to say “imagine it was your bay at home and somebody parked in it. What would you do?" If it was my parking spot I wouldn’t be bothered in the slightest if an ambulance required it to help attend to a fellow human being. How do these people sleep at night by stealing tax payer’s money from the NHS budget? It’s sickening. They should refund the money in full, provide an apology and review their procedures and processes. It’s about time clamping was cleaned up and regulated properly!

- Caroline Grohl, London

Just more evidence that private clamping needs to put under a thumb. Comes down to the employee more than anything though, what a complete a**hole, shows the lack of human traits required to be a clamper.

- Jamie, Berkshire

Hang on, This ambulance was working on behalf of the NHS - publicly funded.

The fine was imposed on behalf of Camden Council - publicly funded.

I have just heard on the radio that Camden Council offered to see a parking bay to the NHS who refused (quite rightly).

Camden council's duty is to make our lives easier, not harder.

- Peter,, London

Quote: When something is so obviously completely wrong and you have to fight this much to have it made right you just have to realize that your government is failing at a very basic level.

- Beebeec, Houston USA

In fairness to the clamping company it's clamper probably couldn't read, so the word 'Ambulance' would have just been a load of random letters. He should have known from the markings on the vehicle though...

- Julian, Bracknell

It's not an emergency ambulance on a call, it’s a private ambulance and it was illegally parked. Why should it be exempt from the rules the rest of us have to abide by? If it where a genuine emergency vehicle it would be different but it obviously isn’t, I’m with the clamping firm on this one.

- Nj, London

camden council are as much to blame for employing scum like this. what an absolute outrage, proof again that wardens/clampers are human garbage

- Jason In London, london

I've just come across this story and am, frankly, astounded! Obviously these clamping companies are run and staffed by odious money grubbing creeps, who would probably be unemployable in any other field of endeavour. Come on Boris, do something.

- Ed Woodman, Annan, Dfrs & Galloway

The ambulances run by M&L are no emergency response ambulances, they are patient transport only. So whilst I agree that they should have been given more than 30 seconds out of sheer himan decency to unload the patient, the fact remains that these are private ambulances.

- Jl, London

Come on Camden Council. Where is your response to this outrage? Surely not a "More than my job's worth attitude"?

- Frank, Boncath, Wales

There is something inherently wrong when private clamping companies think its ok to stick them on emergency services vehicles.

If the offence is that serious then ok.. give them a ticket but what benefit does clamping an ambulance do?

What happened to common sense?

- Paul, Berlin, Germany

This is England where the lunatics run the asylum and it appears they always will.

- Michael Bell, Basingstoke, England

I suggest that all London Parking control staff and directors wear badges stating: "In case of emergency, I demand that no ambulance approach me. Please transport me to the nearest hospital in a wheelbarrow."

- Martin, Telford England

What has our beloved country come to? There is an alarming rise in over zealous bureaucrats carrying out their "duties" with alarming vigour. It seems we are to be made as miserable as possible with no thought or compassion, even for the sick.

- Diana From Devon, Newton Abbt, UK

Hope the spokesperson never finds themselves not being able to utilise the services of an ambulance because they are too frightened to park for fear of a ticket. What price health !

- Glennda, Berkhamsted UK

this country has gone completely mad!

- Josh, london

Please David Cameron when you win the next election, put a stop to all this nonsense, you DO have the power and you will reap dividends.

Enough is enough.

- Brian Hunwicks, Banus,Spain and glad to be a Conservative

"..imagine it was your bay at home and somebody parked in it. What would you do?" Well, Mr Clamping Spokesman, I would help the patient into the building he is attending and stop being a total tool.

- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE .

Yet another case of brain dead clampers - where did common sensed go - we know where it isn't, with clampers. Time to pull the contract in

- Terrry, Berwick

Interfering with the emergency services while they are carrying out their duties ought to carry a mandatory prison term. This law would mainly be aimed at drunken thugs who harass ambulance crews and firemen, but if it caught these clampers as well, that would be an added bonus!

- Nigel, London

Crazy,and its the tax payer that will pay the release fee,money that would better be spent within the health service.well i suppose its a effective way to divert tax payers money from the health service into a private companies hands.

- Kev, London

Let's introduce a national Stupidity Tax administered by a Stupidity Czar. Any fine or bill could be disputed, and if found guilty of stupidity, the perpetrator would be fined 10x the original amount.

First in the dock...gordon brown and our countless billions of taxes squandered.

- Zaphod, zanzibar

LPC's spokesman says, "Newspapers will always write negative things about clamping companies but imagine it was your bay at home and somebody parked in it."

It's not a case of "somebody" parking in the bay; it's an AMBULANCE, as in "emergency vehicle"; if it was my bay, I would if necessary move my car out of it to allow the paramedic to better assist the sick person.

- Adam, London, UK

the council is to blame! the reason they let these agressive parking wardens operate like they do is because of the revenue they generate! absolutely disgusting.

'the vehicle is clearly an ambulance - it has the words written down the side' - well the person who handed out the fine probably cannot read!

- Maria, London

I wonder what the legal position would be if someone in need of that ambulance died as a result of the delay caused by the clamper. Hopefully legislation will be quickly introduced making it quite clear that the chief executives of the clamping firm will face murder charges.

- Hotducks, Harrow

Who has given a licence to these thugs?

- Bloke, London

Unfortunately, the ripest comment was the slightly facetious remark about April 1. This action is beneath contempt - the moron who actually did the clamping clearly lacks either a brain or a conscience, and as for the self-serving verbiage from "London Parking Control", words fail me (which is not often). It's almost Kafkaesque in its grossness. Revoking the license of the company (this afternoon would not be too soon), and name and shame.

- David, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Disgusting and indefensible! These clampers are just scum of the earth. The whole industry needs an overhaul and the laws revised to prevent this sort of mindless abuse happening. The councils share in the blame for this.

- John, London

Ah another day in Barmy Nu=Labour Britain! It's ridiculous to license just anybody to go around handing out tickets and clamping. They do it for profit, which does not sit well with being sympathetic or sensible. Most of these people are thugs and foreign nationals so you are not likely to br given any leeway at all as they couldn;t care less. Why was this ever taken away from the Police? This is a perfect job for the plastic bobbies we see around and then at least the profit motive would be removed.

- Mark, London

"What next? Clamp a fire engine beacuse the firefighters are putting out a fire?"

How about: "A hearse and mourners' limousine were clamped as undertakers prepared to take a coffin to a funeral - and then they were held to ransom for £200."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-517178/Hearse-mourners-limousine-clamped-undertakers-prepared-coffin-funeral.html

You're not even safe when you're dead.

- Tonyb, Melbourne, Australia

Sadly since councils became responsible for parking wardens it seems to have become somewhat a 'care in the community' project! Or do they deliberately employ idiots?

- Michael, London

Simple soloution, strip the clamping firm of its license, and do a gentle probe into the records of all it's oporotives and manages. It might be fascinating to find out the type of people they employ.

- Mike Usiskin, london

I had to check the date, thought it was 1st April.

What next? Clamp a fire engine beacuse the firefighters are putting out a fire?

I agree with Marianne, the licence should be revoked. Councils need tighter controls on people they are asking to do their dirty work

- E Sullivan, London

Brainless monkeys the lot of them, absolutely disgusting

- Dean, London

Another bunch of greedy cowboys given a contract by the council. Don't renew their contract.

- Dom, London

London clampers are mindless thoughless thugs - and this just confirms it. This particular company should have its' license revoked.

- Marianne, SW France

London Parking Control Limited need to be controlled ! Clearly the loopholes left in the legislation that allows this sort of thing encourage this sort of activity which is nothing more than highway robbery condoned by politicians. Apart from the fact that it was an ambulance and anyone with an ounce more sense than avarice would have let it go.

- Peter Haldane, London

What would I do, I would use the common sense I was born with and let this Ambulance guy get on with his Job. As for the clamping firm's response it just shows what a load of shark's these guys are, but then again so are the council's that let them get away with it.

- Gary Stride, Purley, Surrey

Prime example of how this country is going to the dogs. Whatever happened to thought, manners, respect, common sense, kindness and initiative?

- We, Kent, UK

One can only hope that Camden Council will refuse to renew this greedy and insensitive firm's contract.

- Nick, Hong Kong

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