West Sussex County Council: Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) - Park Right; Keeping Parking in its Place

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Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE)

Changes in the law mean that Councils can apply to Central Government to take over the enforcement of most on-street parking controls from the Police.  This "decriminalisation" of parking enforcement has been adopted by West Sussex County Council as Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE).  Under CPE parking enforcement has transferred from criminal law (Sussex Police) to civil law (Local Authority).

The West Sussex Parking Enforcement Practice Note is an operational statement that provides a clear framework for effective parking management activities throughout West Sussex.

Parking enforcement throughout the county is the responsibility primarily of the County Council.  To achieve effective implementation of the Integrated Parking Strategy, the powers for on-street parking enforcement are delegated to the District and Borough Councils acting as Agent to the County Council,  thereby enabling the integration of the responsibilities for both on-street and off-street areas.

Previously, the Government received the majority of money generated through Fixed Penalty Notices issued by the police. Under CPE West Sussex County Council, in partnership with the District and Borough Councils will collect these charges and use them to pay for the costs of enforcement – using any surplus money for the benefit of transport, parking and other environmental improvements within the districts or boroughs.

The management of parking enforcement changed in both the Horsham District and the Mid Sussex District from 23rd January 2006.  From this date, the District Councils took over the role of on-street enforcement from Sussex Police and added this to their existing off-street (car park) parking services.  CPE was introduced in Worthing Borough (please click here to view a Worthing Borough Council leaflet on CPE) on 10th September 2007 and is enforced by NSL Services Group. CPE was introduced in Adur District (please click here to view an Adur District Council leaflet on CPE) on 5th March 2009 and is enforced by NSL Services Group. CPE will be introduced into other districts & boroughs within West Sussex over the next few years.