Merton traffic wardens suffered 36 physically violent attacks in the last seven years, including one attendant who was trapped between a car and a wall by a motorist.
A Freedom of Information request showed that Merton traffic wardens have been victim to 56 attacks in total, ranging from pushing and spitting to headbutts and punches.
Two attacks were so serious the wardens involved were given extended leave, and ten incidents involved racial abuse.
The request also shows that attacks included: a member of the public jumping on a warden’s back, a warden being followed and having a bucket of water thrown over them, and a member of the public throwing stones at a warden’s vehicle while kicking it.
Merton council take a zero tolerance approach to attacks on wardens, and in December 2016, a 34-year-old man pleaded guilty to racially aggravated intentional harassment at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court.
Andrew Pester, chief executive of the British Parking Association, said: “Parking professionals everywhere are undertaking an important job, assisting millions of people every day to go about their lives in a way that’s possible only because parking services are effectively provided and managed.
“It’s not an easy job, but it is an essential one and parking professionals deserve respect and protection from assault.”
Feature image credit: © Gerald England (cc-by-sa/2.0)
