NPAS...THAT Telephone call...what was said...and the apologies.

Is the National Parking Adjudication Service Independent?

Will I ever get a fair hearing?

Judge for yourself, but first you need to be reminded that NPAS are funded at the rate of 60p per PCN (Penalty Charge Notice) and they are answerable to the NPAS Joint Committee (comprising members from Local Authorities subscribing to the decriminalised parking regime).

On their website video an Adjudicator states that, "This is in fact a Court of Law." If you click on the link here and view the video you can see the 'independent' adjudicator.
I have a letter on my desk from Paul Griffiths, Service Development Officer which states, "...the National Parking Adjudication Service is not a Court of Law but an Independent Tribunal..."
Which is it NPAS?
The adjudicator on the video states,"I have no connection whatsoever with the local authority."
NPAS is 'answerable' to NPAS Joint Committee which comprises members drawn from Local Authorities.
NPAS is funded by tickets issued by Local Authorities and their agents.
I smell a connection!

Meanwhile the Draconian enforcement regimes have been unleashed on the unsuspecting motorist who doesn't realise that his right to appeal is to an entity complicit in the whole cash raising scam.

I offered NPAS a meeting to make them aware of the unlawful activities of Sunderland City Council and their agents, NCP. When you read their response it is clear that they are quite prepared to share information detailing press coverage with other Local Authorities but are not interested in receiving evidence of serious malpractice from a member of the public.

How the story began can be read here... National Parking Adjudication Service...On the Record

The contents of THAT telephone call ( the one in which I overheard Tribunal Manager, Andrew Barfoot talking to Chief Adjudicator, Caroline Shepherd after he forgot to hang up his mobile telephone) can be read here . A link to his response is provided but can also be read here

The letter to Chief Adjudicator can be seen here and her apology here.

If you have any evidence of malpractice in any local authority you can e-mail us at metricmartyrs@btconnect.com or call in confidence on 0845 147 2006

We are aware of the Accrington case which appears to highlight the fact that every ticket issued in Lancashire to date under the decriminalised regime has been issued unlawfully. Again, as in Sunderland, the implications of this are enormous. More to follow.

There is also a precedent regarding Hackney Carriage Stands (Taxi Ranks) which will have knock on implications for every other authority who has made a similar error.

It appears as though procedures of good practice and understanding of the legislation have been side-stepped in the race to initiate the 'cash cow' decriminalised parking enforcement regimes.