Civil Enforcement Officer

26 May 2009

A Civil Enforcement Officer is usually employed by a Council, but can also be employed by private companies contracted to a Council.  Their function is to enforce parking restrictions and regulations.  They were previously known as traffic attendants or wardens.

Powers

Civil Enforcements Officers spend their days walking the streets and are recognisable by their uniforms.  Their function is ensure that traffic regulations are being upheld by the public and to help them in their duties they hold the power to issue anyone contravening traffic regulations with a Penalty Charge Notice, or PCN. They have to power to inspect Blue badges and can immobilise a vehicle if need be.

PCN’s were designed to help cut down paper work on council officers by allowing the offender to deal with the issue ‘on the spot’ and while it is not a criminal offence to be issued one, failure to pay within a certain amount of time may result in a bailiff of the court executing a warrant of arrest to the offender.

A Blue Badge is another name for a disabled parking permit.  This permit has to be displayed on any parked vehicle carrying people who fall under this category if they wish to park in a designated disabled parking space. Failure to allow a Civil Enforcement Officer the ability to inspect these badges amounts to an offence.

A Civil Enforcement Officer needs to have the ability to communicate clearly, possess interpersonal relations skills, diplomacy, tact and patience and must be able to operate any equipment necessary to their job.