Legislation being introduced to curb the private parking industry

It is worth noting that private parking companies have been the subject of debate and scrutiny in the UK Parliament in recent years.

In 2018, the Government introduced the Parking (Code of Practice) Act, which established a single code of practice for private parking companies and an independent appeals service. During the parliamentary debates on the Act, several Members of Parliament (MPs) raised concerns about the conduct of some private parking companies, including allegations of rogue practices such as issuing excessive fines and not following proper procedures.

The Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act, which was passed in March 2019, established a single code of practice for private parking companies in the UK, called the Private Parking Code of Practice (PPCoP). The PPCoP is designed to promote greater transparency and fairness in the private parking industry, and includes provisions such as a cap on parking fines and an independent appeals service for drivers who receive Parking Charge Notices (PCNs).

In 2020, the government temporarily withdrew the PPCoP due to concerns raised by the British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC) about the financial viability of the new appeals service. The BPA and IPC argued that the proposed fees for the appeals service were too low to cover the costs of operating it, and that this would ultimately lead to increased costs for motorists and reduced standards in the industry.

Following a review by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the PPCoP was reissued in January 2021 with some changes to the appeals service fees and other provisions. The revised PPCoP includes a £20 fee for each appeal, which will be refunded to the driver if their appeal is successful. The PPCoP also includes provisions for the creation of a single, independent code of practice monitoring and enforcement body, which will oversee the conduct of private parking companies and ensure they are complying with the PPCoP.

Overall, the introduction of the PPCoP and the associated appeals service has been seen as a positive step towards improving standards in the private parking industry and providing greater protections for drivers who receive PCNs. However, there are ongoing concerns about the conduct of some private parking companies and the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms to ensure they are complying with the PCoP. 

The language used to describe the industry, such as "cowboys", "scammers", "rogues" etc. have all been used by MPs from all sides of the House in debates about the industry. Anyone doubting this need only refer to Hansard for the record.

The PPCoP is available to view here: 
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/enacted