North Ayrshire Council safeguards Parking Attendants with Motorola VB400 body worn cameras
Customer Background
Set in rural Scotland, North Ayrshire has a population of approximately 133,490 people. The council headquarters are located in Irvine, which is North Ayrshire’s largest town. It is known for its rural countryside, coastlines, beaches and landmarks.
The challenges:
- The transition of parking duties from Police to Council highlighted the need for better communication and conflict documentation.
The solution:
- MOTOTRBO VB400 body worn cameras with chest harnesses.
- VideoManager with On Premise software.
The results:
- Post-incident footage review has improved accuracy and efficiency in reporting.
- Parking attendants feel safer knowing they are connected to a central control room.
Parking Attendants face abuse: Calls for better protection
Parking Attendants (PAs) are often subjected to verbal and physical abuse. According to a survey by the British Parking Association, 84% of local government PAs experience verbal abuse at least once a month, physical assaults were more common against PAs in Northern England, whilst 7/10 of physical assaults on PAs were not pursued by the police.
In the UK, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 made it an aggravated offense to assault someone who is performing a public duty, which includes PAs / civil enforcement officers (CEOs).
When parking enforcement duties transitioned in North Ayrshire from the Police to the Council, it became clear key areas required urgent attention. For example, a more effective connection between PAs and the central control room. Additionally, a secure method of documenting any conflicts during enforcement activities. Therefore, North Ayrshire Council included a specification for Body-Worn Cameras (BWC) in a competitive tender for decriminalised parking enforcement services.
Imperial wins contract for body worn cameras
Established in 1988, Imperial Civil Enforcement Solutions Ltd (Imperial), now part of Modaxo, participated in the tender process. Partnering with Radiocoms, Imperial proposed the Motorola Solutions VB400 body worn video, a device frequently selected by emergency services.
Ruth Nixon, Senior Account Manager, Radiocoms, “Body worn cameras promote transparency and accountability, helping employees to feel safer and more confident in their role, whilst producing compelling evidence when needed.”
Following a successful contract award to Imperial, the deployment was swift. The roll out began with comprehensive training sessions to familiarise the enforcement team with the new BWC’s. They covered operational use, response protocols, and best practices to ensure the cameras effectiveness.
The VB400 camera automatically records incidents in full HD video and with a long life battery they last through an entire shift without needing a recharge. Furthermore, their rugged design makes them suitable for the often harsh environments. Designed to streamline workflow, the VB400 body-worn camera offers a seamless post-shift process. Officers simply place the VB400 into its dock where it automatically uploads the day’s footage into the Motorola Solutions VideoManager software. VideoManager then securely stores the data, organising it with time, date, and location details. This practice supports report writing and provides substantial support to the police if necessary.
Body cams exceed expectations, enhance reporting and de-escalation
The introduction of the body worn cameras has successfully met and exceeded the Council’s expectations, as officers now have a technology to help them in de-escalating confrontational situations. Furthermore, the ability to review footage post-incident has made reporting more accurate and less time-consuming.
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