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Police caught on camera parking on yellow lines for shopping trips in Watford

10:00am Friday 1st June 2012 in News By Mike Wright, Chief Reporter

Police officers in Watford have been caught on camera for the second time in two weeks parking on double yellow lines to go on shopping jaunts to supermarkets.

The town’s force is facing a mounting outcry after officers were snapped on Friday parking up on a pavement in central Watford for a trip to Iceland.

The revelation comes just a week after pictures emerged of police illegally parking in St Albans Road to visit a Tesco Express.

The pictures have been branded “disgraceful” by one former police detective who said the abuses damaged the force’s standing with the public.

Watford’s Chief Inspector Nick Caveney has also come down hard on the practice, saying the officers involved have been reprimanded and prosecuted.

The town’s top policeman also described the two incidents as a “rare lapse” in the behaviour of his committed and dedicated force.

The latest picture taken by a Watford resident who saw officers park their car on the pavement in Albert Road South, a stone’s throw away from Watford Police Station, where there are double yellow lines.

The resident, who asked not to be named, said: “A patrol car pulled up with all four wheels on the pavement, two officers jumped out slammed the door shut and left the engine running, presumably with the keys inside.

“I thought they were going to make an arrest but they strolled over to Iceland to do a bit of shopping.

“They emerged from the shop 10 minutes later with a bag of shopping. I wouldn’t mind but it would be quicker to walk from the police station in Shady Lane than to drive there.”

A retired Metropolitan Police detective, Terry Hymans, who lives in Rickmansworth, said he felt there was no excuse for officers misusing parking privileges.

He also said actions like the ones caught on camera damaged the public’s trust in the police.

“I think it is disgraceful personally,” he said “I don’t think there is any excuse. This is part of the reason people have little regard for police officers today.

“It sends out a signal of don’t do as I do, do as I say. People will naturally assume they (the police) all do it and that is not true.”

The first pictures police parking on yellow lines was first captured by Abbots Langley resident Kevin Brown who submitted them to the Watford Observer last week.

He said he was “amazed” to see an officer park on a double yellow lines on a pavement in St Albans Road before spending seven minutes in Tesco Express and emerging with a shopping bag.

Following the revelations Chief Inspector for Watford, Nick Caveney said he was “shocked and surprised” to see the pictures.

He said: “As police officers, we have a very clear responsibility to operate totally within the law, whether this is when dealing with people we have arrested or while using a public highway in a police vehicle.

We have to set a good example to our communities and these incidents clearly do not. I am glad these have been brought to my attention and have since spoken with the officers concerned to establish the circumstances.

“Had they been responding to an emergency, illegal parking is justified and allowed, but this was not the case.

The officers concerned have been reprimanded for their behaviour and just like any other member of the public, are being prosecuted for their actions.”

“I’m very proud of our team here in Watford who work beyond the call of duty on a daily basis in order to keep our communities safe.

“These incidents are a rare lapse in an otherwise committed, dedicated and upstanding team.”