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| Parking warden abuse in Essex prompts awareness campaign | |
| (21 days later) | |
| Tanya McGrath has been attacked while doing her job as a civil enforcement officer | Tanya McGrath has been attacked while doing her job as a civil enforcement officer |
| A new campaign has been launched following a surge in reports of physical and verbal assaults aimed at parking wardens. | A new campaign has been launched following a surge in reports of physical and verbal assaults aimed at parking wardens. |
| The North Essex Parking Partnership's (NEPP) Beyond The Uniform campaign has focused on the human stories of the people doing their job on the frontline. | The North Essex Parking Partnership's (NEPP) Beyond The Uniform campaign has focused on the human stories of the people doing their job on the frontline. |
| The organisation said there were 184 incidents reported in 2023-24, up from 136 in 2022-23. | The organisation said there were 184 incidents reported in 2023-24, up from 136 in 2022-23. |
| "I've had people try and drive their cars at me, I've had people say to me I hope you die of cancer," said Tanya McGrath, 58, who runs a team of civil enforcement officers. | "I've had people try and drive their cars at me, I've had people say to me I hope you die of cancer," said Tanya McGrath, 58, who runs a team of civil enforcement officers. |
| "Why should we be abused? We are just doing our job." | "Why should we be abused? We are just doing our job." |
| Advertising and marketing as part of the campaign will focus on the staff's experiences | Advertising and marketing as part of the campaign will focus on the staff's experiences |
| NEPP manages a team of civil enforcement officers, previously known as traffic wardens, across north Essex. | NEPP manages a team of civil enforcement officers, previously known as traffic wardens, across north Essex. |
| They carry out day to day patrols, which can involve issuing penalty notices for those who break parking regulations. | They carry out day to day patrols, which can involve issuing penalty notices for those who break parking regulations. |
| Mrs McGrath said schools were often a flashpoint for abuse, despite the officers being there to keep children safe. | Mrs McGrath said schools were often a flashpoint for abuse, despite the officers being there to keep children safe. |
| "It makes you feel sad because I'm a nan, I'm a mum, I'm an auntie, I've got children of my own," she said. | "It makes you feel sad because I'm a nan, I'm a mum, I'm an auntie, I've got children of my own," she said. |
| "You just think, you shouldn't talk to us like that. | "You just think, you shouldn't talk to us like that. |
| "We are a parent at the end of the day, and you are a parent, why would you do that?" | "We are a parent at the end of the day, and you are a parent, why would you do that?" |
| Psychological impact | Psychological impact |
| Ria, who declined to give her surname, is off sick from her job after being attacked while seizing a disabled badge that was being misused. | Ria, who declined to give her surname, is off sick from her job after being attacked while seizing a disabled badge that was being misused. |
| "The driver got out of his car and grabbed hold of me and I couldn't get away from him and he threw me up against a van," Ria explained. | "The driver got out of his car and grabbed hold of me and I couldn't get away from him and he threw me up against a van," Ria explained. |
| "I had bruising on my wrists, but it is the psychological aspect of it since then." | "I had bruising on my wrists, but it is the psychological aspect of it since then." |
| She said she was taking anti-depressants following the incident and would be going through therapy. | She said she was taking anti-depressants following the incident and would be going through therapy. |
| Richard Walker, head of parking for NEPP, said it was not fair to hurl abuse at staff | Richard Walker, head of parking for NEPP, said it was not fair to hurl abuse at staff |
| Jake England, group operating manager at NEPP, said it appeared there were a range of factors contributing to more abuse. | Jake England, group operating manager at NEPP, said it appeared there were a range of factors contributing to more abuse. |
| He said: "I think home life and financial circumstances, such as the cost of living crisis, have been talked about a lot, national politics has been a recent topic that's come up and the reality is that parking is a fairly emotive topic." | He said: "I think home life and financial circumstances, such as the cost of living crisis, have been talked about a lot, national politics has been a recent topic that's come up and the reality is that parking is a fairly emotive topic." |
| The campaign, which runs until April, will see advertising and marketing used to promote the staff and their lives, with public information events also planned. | The campaign, which runs until April, will see advertising and marketing used to promote the staff and their lives, with public information events also planned. |
| Much of the focus will be in Harlow, where more incidents have been recorded, but the campaign could be rolled out further if successful. | Much of the focus will be in Harlow, where more incidents have been recorded, but the campaign could be rolled out further if successful. |
| Richard Walker, head of parking for NEPP and current president of the British Parking Association, said: "Whatever you think about parking regulations or penalties or all the rest of it, these are real people, just like you and I. | Richard Walker, head of parking for NEPP and current president of the British Parking Association, said: "Whatever you think about parking regulations or penalties or all the rest of it, these are real people, just like you and I. |
| "It is not really fair to hurl abuse at people or even worse." | "It is not really fair to hurl abuse at people or even worse." |
| Listen: Essex traffic warden abuse ‘I was wished dead’ | Listen: Essex traffic warden abuse ‘I was wished dead’ |
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