Under attack: Tough times for traffic wardens.

Verbal and physical attacks faced by staff

There have been almost 200 physical and verbal attacks against traffic wardens across Courier Country in the last five years.

Some councils have resorted to having parking attendants and traffic wardens wear body cameras, such is the rate of assaults on staff.

The shocking statistics, gathered via a Freedom of Information request, show Dundee has the highest incident rate – with 89 verbal and physical assaults on council parking staff being recorded since January 2013.

A total of 177 verbal and physical acts of violence have been reported in Dundee, Fife, Angus and Perth and Kinross councils against parking staff, which includes wardens on the beat and attendants in multi-storey facilities.

In Angus, control of parking was handed over to the local authority from the police in April of last year.

Eleven reports of violence or verbal abuse have been recorded since then.

Perth and Kinross traffic wardens did not fare any better, with 31 verbal or physical attacks.

In Fife, 46 attacks on staff parking attendants categorised as violence, aggression and threat were reported to council bosses.

Angus Council say their staff are highly trained to deal with incidents of an aggressive nature and that if a problem escalates the matter could be reported to the police.

An Angus Council spokesperson said: “Assaults on our staff are never acceptable, wherever they occur, whatever the circumstances and irrespective of whether they are verbal or physical.

“We are committed to preventing violence and aggression and encourage our staff to record and report such behaviour.

“Where incidents do happen, we use all appropriate measures to take action in relation to those responsible and ensure that the staff member affected receives appropriate support.”

In Dundee, the council says it treats each incident of threat with the utmost urgency, as well as offering affected employees support.

A city council spokesperson said: “If an incident occurs staff should advise their line manager and are encouraged to fill in a reporting form.”

A Fife Council spokesperson said: “Any verbal threat, abusive or violent behaviour that is directed towards a parking attendant is recorded on the council First Contact system.

“Details of the incident are recorded on a form and a manager will review the incident, speak to the employee and take any appropriate measures.

“If the incident is of a serious nature, then the matter will be reported to the police if it hasn’t already been.”

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of our staff is a matter that we take very seriously and the council has a range of supports and procedures in place to ensure it’s maintained.”

Some councils have resorted to having parking attendants and traffic wardens wear body cameras, such is the rate of assaults on workers.