Vehicle pictured parked on yellow lines to snoop on motorists

After the Times revealed a Brent Council vehicle breaking one of its own rules, eagle eyed residents have since been on the lookout and have revealed more incriminating images.

A photograph, printed last week, clearly showed a CCTV enforcement car, designed to catch motorists committing driving offences, parked on a double yellow line.

The photograph, sent in by a reader was taken in Bridge Road, Wembley and the Times then asked readers if they had noticed a problem in the borough.

Images have since flooded in from concerned residents who have noticed the issue and hit out at the council for allowing it to happen.

Michael Maurice, who lives in Carlton Avenue East, Wembley, sent an image taken on nearby Preston Road which shows one of the vehicles parked just a few feet in front of a pay and display section.

He told the Times that Brent Council was displaying ‘contempt’ for those that may make simple mistakes when parking. He added: “Brent Council and its Chief Executive Officer should be setting an example to other motorists, not blatantly and wilfully flouting the regulations.”

The council have defended the action and claim that Civil Enforcement Officers have a ‘statutory exemption’, allowing them to contravene parking restrictions to carry out their duties.

However, Sharhar Ali, green party and London Assembly member for Brent and Harrow claimed they should not “defend the malpractice of contravening parking regulations while they enforce them.”

Mr Ali sent in an image taken on Bridge Road revealing the vehicle to be on a no stopping no loading line.

He added: “It was causing an obstruction and a potential safety risk to both pedestrians and motorists.”

In addition, a resident sent in a further image from Preston Road which showed the vehicle parked just inches in front of a parking bay.

The resident, who did not want to be named, claimed the vehicle had been parking there for months.