Mobile CCTV car caught snooping on festive shoppers outside of charged parking hours
Council chiefs have been accused of cashing in on Christmas after a mobile CCTV car was caught preying on festive shoppers outside of charged parking hours.
The vehicle, which films motorists committing driving offences, was snapped by an eagle-eyed Times reader in Neasden Shopping Centre, yesterday at 6.30pm.
According to the reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, the car was snooping on people briefly stopping on double yellow lines while it was parked on double lines itself.
She said: “They already cash in with their astronomical parking charges so when people don’t have to pay they are turning their attentions to drivers popping briefly into shops as its Christmas.
“It will just lead to people keeping away from Neasden.”
The controversial cars have attracted huge criticism for flouting its own rules while capturing other motorists’ mistakes since they were rolled out at the beginning of this year.
Their launch coincided with the introduction of parking meters in three Wembley shopping parades.
Visitors to Preston Road, East Lane and Bridge Road, Wembley, now have to fork out 60p for 20 minutes, �1.50 for 40 minutes and �2.40 for an hour.
According to Brent Council the cars have a ‘statuary exemption’ which allows them to contravene parking restrictions to carry out their statutory duties.
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