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Seeing red over police car’s yellow peril

4:21pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

comment Comments (20)   Have your say »

By Paul Offord »

'ELLO, 'ello, 'ello, what have we here then... a police car parked up on double yellow lines, in a busy Canvey road, for more than 24 hours!

The patrol car was first spotted in Long Road, between the Maple Way and Hawkesbury Road junctions, at 10am on Tuesday.

It was still parked there, blocking part of the pavement, yesterday afternoon.

And residents are clearly not happy at the apparent double standards.

George Topley, 55, of Tudor Road, Canvey, said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw a police car parked there so brazenly.

"They're breaking all the parking laws going.

"It's not like it has only been there five minutes. It's been over 24 hours.

"If anyone else had parked there, they would definitely had their car towed away - or been arrested."

However, police are remaining tight-lipped about the reasons why the car has been there.

Chief Insp Paul Eveleigh, who is district commissioner for Castle Point, said: "The car was parked there for operational reasons, because of an incident in the immediate vicinity."

Essex Police would not confirm what the incident was.

A spokesman said it was a "sensitive" operation.

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pro police, southend says...
4:43pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Yes its a police vehicle parked on double yellow lines, yes it was there for 24 hours, but dont you think there was a number of shift changes in that period therefore it was there for a reason and parking it miles away properly would of defeated that reason and would of annoyed someone who couldnt get parked outside their own home???

Miss D Meaner, Vicarage Hill says...
5:35pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Well it was apparently still there, this afternoon - must be a big "operation", and very lengthy. I've never heard such pathetic excuses for incompetence in my life!

The Vicar, Basildon says...
5:36pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Council vehicles (even the Nazi camera cars) break the road laws repeatedly and they often have no reason to do so.

Annoyed Resident/Motorist, Canvey Island says...
6:13pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Well Thursday 3rd July, I can confirm it was still there this morning and probably still is. Its been abandoned.

Nic Nic, Dunkin Donuts says...
6:40pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Plod have eaten so many doughnuts, they are too fat to get in it !

Paul Stone, says...
6:45pm Thu 3 Jul 08

What the mindless complainers seem to be missing is that it is obviously there for a very serious reason! I am sure they wouldnt be complaining if it were them that needed the protection of the Police.

JH, Essex says...
6:59pm Thu 3 Jul 08

Damned if they do, and damned if they don't, give them a break.

Anonymous Police Officer, says...
8:12pm Thu 3 Jul 08

As some people said above, there have been a number of shift changes over this 24hr period. The police car is NOT abandoned and it IS there for a very serious reason. I think people need to grow up to be honest. I am not going to go into the reasons as to it being parked there as this is "restricted operational information" but be rest assured, it's not just parked there 'willy nilly', there are reasons for it! Ok?

just me, southend says...
12:01am Fri 4 Jul 08

Shame we can't all use the excuse that it's important when we need to park on double yellows.....I wonder if i could use the quote from that last post if i have to go to court over a fine?... "yes your honour i know it was on double yellows blocking the road and part of the path, but i can assure you i had a good reason, thats all you need to know ok?"... as said in the past, one rule for them, one rule for the rest of us.... knowing essex police this would have been a secret undercover op ;)

Newton, says...
7:25am Fri 4 Jul 08


Regarding the comment made by Anonymous Police Officer, relating to there "Restricted Operational Information" Quote.
Can you tell the public if a serious RTA happened involving said Parked Police Vehicle would the British Jusdice System agree with your Rediculas Comment??????????

Robert Peel, Canvey Island says...
8:35am Fri 4 Jul 08

Anonymous Police Officer wrote:
As some people said above, there have been a number of shift changes over this 24hr period. The police car is NOT abandoned and it IS there for a very serious reason. I think people need to grow up to be honest. I am not going to go into the reasons as to it being parked there as this is \"restricted operational information\" but be rest assured, it\'s not just parked there \'willy nilly\', there are reasons for it! Ok?
So what you're saying is that parking an empty police car on double yellow lines on a busy road for more than 24 hours is justified as it has been left there for a "very serious reason."

I am trying hard to imagine what good an empty police car would be in detecting or deterring a "very serious "crime and unfortunately I can't think of one.

Perhaps someone has a "Police aware sticker" that we can attach to the vehicle concerned?

Sir Robert Peel's Nine Principles

The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.

The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.

Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.

The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.

Police seek and preserve public favour not by catering to public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.

Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient.

Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.

Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.

The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.

Grillo Hunter, says...
9:59am Fri 4 Jul 08

Robert Peel wrote:
Anonymous Police Officer wrote: As some people said above, there have been a number of shift changes over this 24hr period. The police car is NOT abandoned and it IS there for a very serious reason. I think people need to grow up to be honest. I am not going to go into the reasons as to it being parked there as this is \"restricted operational information\" but be rest assured, it\'s not just parked there \'willy nilly\', there are reasons for it! Ok?
So what you're saying is that parking an empty police car on double yellow lines on a busy road for more than 24 hours is justified as it has been left there for a "very serious reason." I am trying hard to imagine what good an empty police car would be in detecting or deterring a "very serious "crime and unfortunately I can't think of one. Perhaps someone has a "Police aware sticker" that we can attach to the vehicle concerned? Sir Robert Peel's Nine Principles The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions. Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public. The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force. Police seek and preserve public favour not by catering to public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law. Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient. Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence. Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.
Give it a rest, Grillo.

pro police, southend says...
10:55am Fri 4 Jul 08

shows it has deterred crime through, everyone has seen it and taken note and been watching it, i bet no-one broke into any houses there nicked any cars, dealt any drugs or done what the police have tried to avoid !!!

Ethan, nr Dole Farm (a Police exclusion zone isn\'t it?), UK says...
11:51am Fri 4 Jul 08

Anonymous Police Officer wrote:
As some people said above, there have been a number of shift changes over this 24hr period. The police car is NOT abandoned and it IS there for a very serious reason. I think people need to grow up to be honest. I am not going to go into the reasons as to it being parked there as this is \"restricted operational information\" but be rest assured, it\'s not just parked there \'willy nilly\', there are reasons for it! Ok?
IMO thats Piffle!
If it was for a sensitive operation then the Battenberg stripes are a teensy bit of a give away. Try an unmarked Vauxhall Omega.
If it is indeed for a serious purpose then an unmanned vehicle cannot watch a premises/person and thus your statement strains credulity.
It's sole value is as perhaps a visual deterrent. But to be frank thats laughable. Try a cardboard cut out policeman (or Community Support Ossifer as they are known these days). Same result less roadspace.

Secondly 'restricted operational information'.
Given the above just how secret can this be?

Police Officers are employed by us taxpayers and I believe that it gives us the right to know whats going on. Especially when it's a plain as a pikestaff that it has no real purpose whatsoever.

Oh and it should be ticketed, clamped and towed away. The law actually does apply to the Police doesn't it?

Me, My Desk says...
12:21pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Newton wrote:
Regarding the comment made by Anonymous Police Officer, relating to there "Restricted Operational Information" Quote. Can you tell the public if a serious RTA happened involving said Parked Police Vehicle would the British Jusdice System agree with your Rediculas Comment??????????
Newton,

Ridiculous not Rediculas

Nick BURTON, Southend on Sea says...
2:43pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Whatever the reason is this EP vehicle should be parked squarly on the road with its wheels close to the kerb NOT on the footpath which is of course for pedestrians

APR, Benfleet says...
7:24pm Fri 4 Jul 08

I would guess it has some sort of monitoring equipment in it, camera perhaps ?

Still a sill place to park.

newton, says...
8:30pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Me wrote:
Newton wrote: Regarding the comment made by Anonymous Police Officer, relating to there "Restricted Operational Information" Quote. Can you tell the public if a serious RTA happened involving said Parked Police Vehicle would the British Jusdice System agree with your Rediculas Comment??????????
Newton, Ridiculous not Rediculas
at least you know what i mean, Know what i mean.

Robert Peel, Canvey Island says...
8:42pm Fri 4 Jul 08

http://www.dft.gov.u
k/pgr/roads/tpm/tal/
parkingmatters/pavem
entparking

hard up, canvey says...
9:10pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Nah, everyone is wrong here. Its run out of petrol an Essex Police cant afford to fill it up

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Offending vehicle - this police car has enraged residents because it is on double yellow lines in Long Road, Canvey Offending vehicle - this police car has enraged residents because it is on double yellow lines in Long Road, Canvey Buy this photo icon Buy this photo »

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