PARKING wardens in East Lancashire are being supplied with body cameras to capture attacks on them.

Councils are issuing teams with recording equipment in a bid to keep them safer rather than to record details of illegally parked cars.

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The move has been described as a ‘worrying sign of the times’ by MPs, who said it was ‘regrettable’ enforcement officers felt they needed cameras for their personal safety.

All of Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen officers now have access to recording equipment.

Coun Maureen Bateson, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen, said each of the borough’s 16 wardens received around two or three verbal and physical assaults every day.

The digital devices allow officers to capture the attacks on video, before sending it to police to be used in potential prosecutions.

County Cllr John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport at the county council, whose wardens will have their cameras on permanently, said: “Our parking enforcement officers do a very valuable job and these digital cameras will help to keep them safe by deterring the small minority of people who subject them to physical or verbal attacks.

“Parking restrictions are vital to keep our roads safe and ensure people can find somewhere to park their car in busy areas.

“I’m very grateful that we have a dedicated team of enforcement officers, and I hope the body cameras help them feel safer doing what, unfortunately, is sometimes a difficult job.

“Other councils have already found these cameras to be very useful. The information collected by the cameras is not used to enforce parking but can be passed to the police to use in evidence if one of our officers is attacked.”

The cameras have cost other local authorities around £600 per device.

Cllr Bateson, from Blackburn with Darwen Council, where wardens switch on their camera if they feel under threat, said: “We took the decision to introduce body mounted cameras to our civil enforcement officers to ensure not only the safety for our staff but also to help monitor any disputes. In some cases the recordings have led to high profile prosecutions.”

Data from the cameras is stored securely and is available for review for a short period before being deleted. The data can be downloaded and used in evidence if needed.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “I think it is a very good idea. Police officers are now being equipped with cameras because it is best evidence in court and it removes the ‘one word against the other’ arguments.

“Hopefully this will act as a good deterrent. Traffic wardens are doing a job and without them there would be a high level of accidents.”

Lancashire Police officers started using body cams several years ago, with the scheme now being expanded to cover more staff.

A spokesman said the cameras had resulted in more prosecutions and guilty pleas than in the past as the evidence they collected could be used in court.

Jake Berry, MP for Darwen and Rossendale, said: “This protection goes both way - it will protect traffic wardens from abusive behaviour, but also could be used by people who are given a ticket if they are unhappy with the way the warden has spoken to them.

“It is not reasonable to expect wardens to stand for abuse in work.”

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said: “I don’t think traffic wardens have many friends, although I do admire them for doing their job.

“If their health and safety is put at risk, I would support what the councils are doing. They have to protect their workforce.”

Andrew Stephenson, MP for Pendle, said: “I think it is a worrying sign of the times. Traffic wardens are subjected to a lot of verbal abuse and unfortunately, there have been incidents of physical assaults as well.

“If they think introducing cameras is a logical step to improve their safety, I welcome it, but it is regrettable that they think it is necessary.”