'Drivers have wished me dead from cancer'

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 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.

"Why should we be abused? We are just doing our job."

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.

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.

"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?"

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.

"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.

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."

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.

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."

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