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On a purely humanitarian level, no-one should have to suffer abuse - it dimishes both sides. But let's be clear, the job of a traffic warden is to go out every day and inflict misery on as many victims as possible. They have no regard for the harm they cause, financial and emotional, so to imply they are being victimised is nonsense. They are universally loathed, and rightly so. The goody two-shoes types who say they have never had a ticket must be sorry specimens - never been late, always have the right change, a pak-a-mak and sensible shoes - you know the sort. Probably traffic wardens. But we are missing the obvious point by railing at immigrant enforcers who can barely communicate with us. The real gestapo are the master-minds behind these gangs. It is after all, their policies, their plans, their management style and their revenue targets that are the root cause of the misery, angst and genuine hatred. They are the lowest life-form, we can't do anything about them, and to cap it all, we pay their wages. I speak as a victim of course, and whilst I accept that there needs to be a level of enforcement, what is missing is any level of humanity - the punishment doesn't fit the crime and redress is hard battle to win if you already lead a busy, stressful life. So I say to the perpetrators of this truly anti-social profession (I use the term loosely), as ye sow, etc. If you want to be treated in a humanitarian way, change your ethics - or find a job amongst the human race.

- John Barrett, Blackheath, 19/11/2009 00:06
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You lot are all idiots.

What do you think driving in London would be like without traffic wardens? It'd be complete chaos!

If you're too stupid or tight to park legally and pay for it, or too lazy to use public transport, then you deserve everything you get. I've lived and driven in London for the last 8 years and haven't had a single parking ticket.

The traffic wardens are only doing their job and you'd all be the first to complain if someone illegally parked in your precious space outside your house!

They have a right to not be abused (racism or no racism), just as you have a right to not park stupidly and ignorantly.

- Liberal And Proud, London, UK, 17/11/2009 14:00
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When are we going to see a programme on anti-white racism?

- Stephen Curry, Barnet, 17/11/2009 13:28
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I agree. It is a shame that abusive and sometimes racist behaviour is one of the first experiences that new arrivals to this country will encounter if they become a traffic warden. But is the fault mainly with the motorist?

No, the fault is primarily with local authorities for enforcing unlawfull and unfair parking regimes. Every single Parking Ticket that I have received in the last six years has been wrong and unenforceable in law. And I am not talking about legal technicalities here, simply that I was parked 100% legally yet through either the utter stupidity and incompetance of the warden or because they thought that they could get away with it to make their quotas, they ticketed me. Severall of my apppeals were then ignored by the local authorities and their contractors. The devastation that this caused to me and my family is too painful to begin to describe here.

Traffic Wardens know almost nothing about even the basics of parking law. Many also cannot read and speak English to a reasonable level, yet they are responsible for enforcing the laws of the land. Ask a Warden even a basic question like what is a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ)and they will look at you as if you are mad.

Central Government should also take some of the blame by letting in all these (mainly) unskilled people.

Parking enforcement is out of contro and of course, as many people have said, has nothing to do with traffic flow and everything to do with money.

An Agrieved Londoner

- A. Marsden, London, 17/11/2009 10:13
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I see the 'racist' card being trotted out yet again. Yawn yawn! No doubt fat traffic wardens get abuse as do ginger haired ones, those with big ears, big noses etc, but there are no laws to protect them (yet!). Face it, they are not liked by anyone much because the job they do has little to do with 'law enforcement' and everything to do with raising revenue for corporations. The 'fairness' of the penalty does not enter into it. It is a commercial transaction so just avoid entering into contract with them.

- David Moon, East Sussex, UK, 17/11/2009 02:30
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Please, not a bleeding heart documentary about poor traffic wardens, they make Londoner's lives a misery and the sooner we get rid of them the better.

- Derek, London, 16/11/2009 23:58
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Okay, how about the white traffic wardens who get spat at and called racist? When is C4 going to make a film about that? Or would that smack too much of unbiased media? Racism isn't about white on black/brown - it's something that works both ways in case the media/press had forgotton

- Joannie, Newham, London, 16/11/2009 20:50
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My borough, Waltham Forest recruits almost exclusively African staff to issue tickets, and then puts financial pressure on them to maximise their 'output'. The resulting protest can then be sanctimoniously put down to 'racist abuse'.

Invalid signage is used, layout problems are deliberately created to ambush drivers.

- Mdj E10, london uk, 16/11/2009 19:55
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The BBC are desperate to find racism in every nook and cranny of this country, thats why they make trite programmes like this.
I do hope the BNP dont get too many MPs in the next parliment, as then the BBC will short circuit itself out of existence.

- Kedge, marlboro wilts uk, 16/11/2009 18:19
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Even if the warden is in the wrong.
Racial abuse should be considered an offense!
You can call the warden an idiot etc, but racial abuse,
No Excuse!
The fact the Native Engish wont do this job, so someone has to do it!

- Nick, Toronto Canada (expat), 16/11/2009 17:39
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Racist comments against TW are unnecessary and cloud the issue here. TW are poorly trained and/or have to meet ridiculous targets. The only way the targets can be met is to wait for meters to run out or for a parking time change rather than seek the true culprits.

In Walthamstow they have given TW motorbikes - which are very badly ridden - suddenly stopping in the road to do a U turn if they think there is an offending vehicle regardless of what traffic is behind them. the bikes are then parked illegally whilst tickets are issued. The worst example I saw was when a TW turned into a road at 8am on a Saturday morning (just as parking time zone changed) and started to write a ticket even though the car was causing no problems where it was parked. 5 minutes later I drove back up the road (I had left something at home) to find that the TW had called a truck to tow the offending car away - ie 5 minutes after the ticket had been issued. The car had not caused any problems 10 minutes earlier and was not causing any problems at 8am on a Saturday but that didn't matter. The illegally parked cars parked in the bus lane of the adjoining major A road however were allowed to continue causing problems.

However in my experience Westminster & Camden TWs are the worst...waiting to pounce the second a meter runs out, but continuing to ignore illegally parked cars.

- Andy, london, 16/11/2009 16:07
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Traffic wardens get a raw deal if you ask me especially our local traffic warden Helen Back who picked up her car from the garage with a steaming brown present in the back seat we recorded the complaint on the bottom of our homepage www.thecommutertimes.com

- Harrington Monkpiece, London, 16/11/2009 15:47
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It is very simple, the pressure put on wardens to issue tickets for what ever reason, to hide behind corners and wait, to even give them to IRV's on a shout, what do you expect? The milch cow of parking revenues drives councils to push the wardens into excess. There was a time when you could at least offer a reasonable explanation. Nowadays, a lot of wardens are not able to or not willing to discuss anything.
Tough luck get another job.

- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19, 16/11/2009 15:32
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Who's daft idea was it to make a program about traffic wardens?,is there nothing more interesting than that to spend money on?anybody that chooses a career in that field deserves all the abuse they receive,so get used to it or get a proper job.

- Bob Hopeless, The Petrified new forest., 16/11/2009 15:29
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Seems to me there are 2 issues merging in the abuse Traffic Wardens; firstly their job, most TWs appear poorly trained, poorly educated in the law and how to deal with the public and many seem to possess only the basics of the English language.
Secondly, encounters with TWs probably highlight aspects of the immigration reality that so many people are getting so upset about. People probably question the 'wonders of a diverse society' that they're forced to believe when their daily encounter with these diverse cultures is in the form of a jumped up nobody in a green jumper fining them without any ability or authority to listen to reason or logic.

I dont drive but encounter these people in everyday life in London and on the whole they're shockingly rude, rediculously niaive and deserve what they get. The 'Im just doing my job' is what Nazi war criminals pleaded at Nuremberg trials. Its no excuse!

- Jack Strap, London, 16/11/2009 14:20
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I find it depressing that the police are so hard to come by in this day and age and yet there is money to fund an ever growing number of traffic wardens whose primary focus is not to keep the streets clear and traffic moving but simply to raise as much money for councils from motorists as possible.

It is unfortunate for immigrants that they choose this profession. It doesn't mitigate racism but it doesn't help an already unpopular job when the public is confronted by the limited language of some of these guys who obviously only care about writing as many tickets as possible. I have been issued with a number of tickets over the past few years and every single one has been cancelled after a long and painful process, in a couple of cases I literally had to take them to court before they finally backed down and admitted fault. It shouldn't be allowed and has wasted huge amounts of my time and energy.

The most frustrating issue of all however is the total lack of coherent policy amongst London boroughs. It is all too easy to make mistakes because in almost every borough there are different rules and in my borough totally different rules from road to road. It is totally unnecessary and confusing and as much as possible parking rules should be aligned across London.

- Dr Who, London, 16/11/2009 14:14
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The traffic wardens where I live in North London strut aboutas though they are quasi military; they clearly enjoy their power seem slightly crazed with it. I have seen many altercations where rudeness and racism are included (on the part of the wardens) - I have heard the abuse. Parking wardens can be very belligerent and arrogant.

- Jentry, London UK, 16/11/2009 14:01
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The wardens are placed under increasing pressure to issue tickets by parking company management, yet I find it hard to raise much sympathy for their poor attiude. Some relish in the task; especially the 'killers' who gain benefits such as overtime for their high hit rate, irrespective of whether it is legitimate.

- Gazza, London, 16/11/2009 13:53
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I think these CEO's have been driven to meet targets which have been demanded by Westminster Council to help balance the books. Until very recently if a CEO's wanted overtime they would have to issue high numbers of tickets, more than the beat average.

But this could be stopped by giving the motorist compensation to the value of the PCN fine if their ticket is successfully appealed. This would stop any accusations of ticket targets overnight and would allow CEO's to get on with fair enforcement and cut out the abuse they get now.

- Lucy, Westminster, 16/11/2009 13:44
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This could get even worse if bonkers Boris gets his way.
The Mayor's Transport Strategy is proposing to tax drivers based on their carbon emissions when they park.

From my experience, when my car is parked at a meter, it doesn't give out any emissions!

I already pay through the nose for the few occasions when I have to use my car - fuel duty (200%) and road tax.

Boris is a former motoring correspondent and is personally a bit of a car lover. But he seems to have been hijacked by the spiteful PC lobby - yes, the lunatics really have taken over the asylum.

- Jools, London, 16/11/2009 13:09
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such naivety as exhibited by david, London, is quite refreshing sometimes.

no less misguided, but refreshing to see such views absent of cynicism or reality.

- Scotty, London, 16/11/2009 12:57
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I have seen this with my own eyes. London is infested with aggressive drivers who think it's their God-given right to drive and park wherever they want, and who will abuse anybody who stands in their way. Worst culprits in my area are people driving their little darlings to school.

- Electra M,, London, 16/11/2009 12:36
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Go on youtube and watch the Westminster Traffic Warden issuing a ticket to a London Black Cab who was on a new official legal Taxi rank in the Haymarket London.

Watch the driver plead with the Warden to walk ten paces and read the official notice proving that he was legally parked, and watch the Warden completely ignore him.

If these Wardens are so poorly trained, and unable to understand simple traffic law is it any wonder that the general public lose their temper with them.

The ticket issued to the Taxi Driver was appealed through the normal process, and WCC upheld the ticket, now the Taxi Driver has to go to arbitration to prove he was legally parked.

So we are to have sympathy for a Warden who issues an unlawful ticket, and a system which upholds an unlawful ticket.

I would recommend to anybody investigate any ticket that is issued, use the web to research the legality of any ticket, and appeal if you can, it will not cost you anymore apart from your time. Most people would be shocked at the amount of tickets that are cancelled on appeal.

- Steve M, London, 16/11/2009 12:36
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Mr S.Port, London
"Do i feel sorry for the parking wardens, answer is no"

Do I feel sorry for people who drive and get ticketed in London, answer is no. In fact I do get some enjoyment when seeing a car getting a ticket.

- David, London, 16/11/2009 12:31
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How many shops and small businesses have gone bust due to councils and their over zealous parking restrictions driving people to only shop out of town. We need a revolution in thinking - free up space for parking, not the current anti motorist crusade. Today`s parking is less about safety and more about revenue raising for councils struggling to meet the directives issued from Whitehall, with less money each year.

- Nickspurs, London, London, 16/11/2009 12:19
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Helen from Fleet welcome to London, David also from London, there is nothing simple about parking in the capital. Motorist are at war with the parking Taliban. Every day on the roads is a new challenge a new battle to try and stay fine free. As a victim many times of the ruthless behaviour of councils, TFL and the police traffic wardens, the rules regulations and the law as i have found out to my cost and been told by the police , appeal adjudicators and magistrates is not on the side of the driver but unfairly set up against. Do i feel sorry for the parking wardens, answer is no. Over the many years of driving daily in the capital and have met many who have lied , hidden, abused,and cheated, i have no sympathy for there plight whatsoever, hopefully there will be less of them on the streets in the future. The problem is cameras are replacing them and they bring another dimension to parking warfare on the streets.

- Mr S.Port, London, 16/11/2009 11:59
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I agree the racism is misdirection. I'm not sure it's really "racism" when angry people just shout the first word they think of that will insult the person they are angry with.

If you want to be liked, don't take a job where you'll be upsetting people all day. Why on earth would anyone who is thin skinned become a traffic warden (other than to make for an incendiary documentary)?

- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent, 16/11/2009 11:40
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Friends from Canada who were visiting London recently asked a traffic warden directions. They were astonished to receive rudeness and unhelpful comments about how busy he was. The calibre of traffic wardens in London is extremely low and their attitude does nothing to improve the image of our city.

- Simon Walters, London, 16/11/2009 11:30
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If traffic wardens (sorry civil enforcement officers) treated the public with courtesy they might get some courtesy back. I was walking along the pavement in Southwark the other week and a traffic warden (who was white as it happens) nearly knocked me over. When I protested he said "he had to do his job". So I said I'd phone Southwark Council and find out if doing his job meant he had to knock pedestrians off the pavement. I don't drive in London and had absolutely no axe to grind, yet he was breathtakingly rude to me. Then he asked me why I was getting narked! I wonder if they have any training in conflict management and indeed manners at all.

- Helen, Fleet UK, 16/11/2009 11:19
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I have won my last 9 straight parking appeals. not because of some fancy legal loophole chicanery, but because they were incorrectly issued for offenses that did not happen.

there is something wrong in the incentive schemes operated by the 3rd party licensees that drive these behaviours.

- Scotty, London, 16/11/2009 11:17
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Its quite simple really, don't park illegally, make sure you have enough time on the meter and have arrived back at your car before the time has expired.

Follow these easy instructions and you are unlikely to get a ticket. Simple.

- David, London, 16/11/2009 11:11
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I suspect that if you weigh up the misery caused by the public against traffic wardens against the misery caused to the public by zealous, unreasonable and simply under-handed parking regimes in London, the scales would be heavily tipped in the latter's favour.

To talk about London racism is a misdirection, in my opinion; London traffic wardens of any colour would be abused for doing what they do in any city in the world.

- St, London, 16/11/2009 10:47
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@Jonas

As Tonyb, Melbourne, Australia quite correctly points out, I am talking about delivery lorries parking next to Tesco,Hamleys etc at 11pm/midnight on a Saturday and Sunday night - NOT during the day when it would cause an obstruction!
I have witnessed Westminster parking wardens literally "stalking" the trucks waiting for them to stop, then immediately slapping on a ticket.
What is so ridiculous is that I often see cars (often expensive 4x4's) parked right on the corner of junctions causing terrible problems for traffic and yet they NEVER seem to have tickets, yet if you park legally in a pay and display bay and go over by 3 minutes you are ticketed almost immediately.....Utterly ridiculous.

- Anon Pc, London, UK, 16/11/2009 10:30
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Well said, Anon. Back when I lived in the UK the LB Richmond wardens were always out for easy pickings (6.25p.m. on a Saturday, Tesco, Teddington car park) and rarely to be seen when illegally parked cars were causing genuine danger or inconvenience. The fix is simple: make local authorities pay over all parking fines to central government, perhaps less 5% for expenses. Suddenly the question would be "what is the minimum amount of enforcement necessary to keep traffic moving and ensure safety".

LBRuT had other rip-offs too, like pay and display machines and meters that would accept 10p- coins but insisted on a 40p minimum payment. If you only need 10 minutes why shouldn't you be able to pay 10p (or whatever)? That's the system here in the P&D car parks I've used.

- Tonyb, Melbourne, Australia, 16/11/2009 10:10
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Anon PC. Supermarkets ought to ensure that all deliveries are made only at night. There is no excuse for deliveries during the day, if the result is traffic obstruction. These people should continue to be penalised until they learn their lesson.

- Jonas, London, 16/11/2009 09:57
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Maybe some of these people who like to insult parking
wardens should come down to Italy,here it is against the law to insult a public official,does'nt matter what job he or she is doing.they can be arrested and charged,Road rage,parking warden rage,the same thing,there are alot of mentally unstable people out there.

- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy, 16/11/2009 09:46
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More importantly what should be exposed is the shocking way these overzealous parking enforcement regimes have been used to raise hundreds of millions of pounds in revenue under the guise of "keeping traffic moving".
There should be a criminal investigation into this, as the law expressly states that "parking must not be used as a means to derive revenue for local authorities".
Whilst Westminster,to their credit, have become much less aggressive and ruthless in their parking enforcement, they still have much to improve.
Why do their wardens consistently slap tickets on Supermarket Delivery articulated lorries that can't park anywhere else?
Common sense and DISCRETION are seriously needed if things are to improve.

- Anon Pc, London, UK, 16/11/2009 09:14
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"I think it really holds up a mirror to England."

If the Politicians, Media and other commentators left London once in a while they would see a very different England to the one certain biased individuals with their own agendas see.

In fact we might get some government policies that actually suit our country and not just London. London in no way reflects the demographics of England.

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 16/11/2009 09:12
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