Civil enforcement officer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Civil Enforcement Officer (UK)
- Special Enforcement Officer / BOA (NL)
- Traffic Warden
- Parking Enforcement Officer
- Parking Attendant
- Stadswachten (BE)
- Handhaving (NL)
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
| Names |
|
| Synonyms |
|
Occupation type | Public servant, municipal official |
Activity sectors | Law enforcement, traffic management, public safety |
| Description | |
| Competencies |
|
Fields of employment | Local government, private enforcement contractors |
A civil enforcement officer (CEO) is a person employed to enforce parking, traffic and other restrictions and laws. When restricted to parking, it is known as traffic warden (also parking enforcement officer or parking attendant).
Powers of a Civil Enforcement Officer
In England, they are employed by county councils, London borough councils, metropolitan district councils or Transport for London, and in Wales by county (borough) councils - or private companies contracted by any of the above. Until the passage of the Traffic Management Act 2004, on-street parking and traffic movement violations were enforced by non-warranted police traffic wardens employed by constabularies. Off-street parking violations were enforced by parking attendants employed by local authorities and private companies.
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Civil enforcement officers may only exercise their functions when wearing a uniform authorised by the Home Secretary.[1]
Their powers include:
- issue penalty charge notices for numerous offences (governed by civil law), either via a hand-held device or CCTV.[2]
- inspect and confiscate disabled parking permits
- interview motorists suspected of disabled badge fraud under caution[3][4]
- immobilise vehicles.[5]
Penalty charge notices are not criminal proceedings, and failure to pay will result in certificated bailiffs serving warrants of execution.[6] They may issue penalties for several moving violations, among them driving in bus lanes, executing prohibited turns and driving the wrong way on a one way system.[7]
Civil enforcement officers employed by some authorities[who?] issue fixed penalties for non-traffic offences using the community safety accreditation scheme of the Police Reform Act 2002.
In Wales, the Vale of Glamorgan Council employs "dual role" uniformed enforcement officers that are authorised to enforce both civil parking legislation, and criminal legislation with regard to environmental crime, anti-social behaviour, bylaws and public spaces protection orders.[8]
Belgium
In Belgium, municipalities use Stadswachten (City Guards); these public but civil officials can be compared to civil enforcement officers and can only write reports that are sent to a magistrate who decides if, according to the findings of the guards report, a fine will be issued. In Belgium, Stadswachten can be recognized by the purple jackets they wear.
