'Clamp down on the clampers'

Pauline Brotherton, 61, of Wibsey, and Winifred O'Hara, 80, of Shipley, were clamped after they were minutes late returning to Mrs O'Hara's Ford Ka in Changegate car park, Haworth.

Mrs Cryer, who is an opponent of wheel clamping on public car parks, said the new rules had to be introduced as quickly as possible.

The Government passed the Private Security Industry Act 2001 in May last year.

It allows the establishment of a Security Industry Auth-ority, which will have the power to regulate the industry and set up a code of practice.

Mrs Cryer said: "I can understand wheel clamping where people are leaving their cars on private land and in areas which need to be kept free, but not in situations where the public are invited to park on a car park.

"Wheel clamping then is a bit like a spider catching a fly."

She said the new legislation paid particular attention to wheel clamping and she hoped it would be introduced as soon as possible. Ted Evans, who owns Changegate car park and sub-contracts Carstoppers to operate the service, said he welcomed the new legislation.

"It will make it plain to everyone what the rules are. We will comply with all the regulations. We need protection as well as the public."

He understood the Home Office were looking at rules relating to tape recording all transactions and providing photographic evidence, which Carstoppers were already carrying out.

He was also considering introducing closed circuit television so that all proceedings could be recorded.

A Home Office spokesman said the British Parking Association had set up a code of practice which included a ceiling on charges and a complaints procedure.

"Although we cannot say at this stage exactly what provision a code under the Security Industry Authority would include, we certainly envisage it covering both these points," he said.

The SIA is expected to be established in 2003 with wheel clamping one of the priority areas for regulation.