BPA / SIA

British Parking Association (BPA)

The BPA is the largest professional association in Europe representing organisations in the parking and traffic management industry. These organisations are many and varied, and include manufacturers, car park operators, local authorities, health authorities, airports, railways, shopping centres, theme parks, consultants.

As the recognised authority within the parking industry the BPA, through its Code of Practice, represents, promotes and influences the best interests of the parking and traffic management sectors throughout the UK and Europe. As well as this work, the BPA provides its members with a range of benefits all aimed at helping the professional in their day to day work.
The Approved Operator Scheme (AOS) is a scheme launched for BPA members in October 2007. The AOS is designed specifically for those BPA members that operate parking enforcement services on private land or in unregulated public car parks. Operators may conduct a wide range of services in this sector, including but not limited to: wheel clamping and vehicle removal, or enforcement by ticketing or Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras, or services such as back office functions, data management and debt recovery.
For further information please have a read of the British Parking Association web site www.britishparking.co.uk
                                       

• Please note that the BPA is not set up to deal with complaints from members of the public regarding parking, ticketing and or/vehicle immobilisation.

Security Industry Authority (SIA)

Vehicle immobilisation on private land is legal in England and Wales, but not in Scotland. Only operators licenced by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) can lawfully immobilise (clamp), remove or block in vehicles in exchange for a fee. The SIA attaches conditions to the licences it issues, and if there is any conflict between those conditions and any of the conditions in the Code, the SIA rules take precedence over the BPA Code of Practice. However, the SIA does not regulate release fees, release times or the adequacy of signs, and it is to these areas in particular that the BPA Code is relevant.

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 regulates vehicle immobilisation and the removal of vehicles on private land and in private car parks accessible to the public. Under the Act, operators have to apply for and gain a licence. It is a criminal offence to work in vehicle immobilisation or removal without a licence. This work is regulated by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

Who needs to be SIA Licenced?
Any company director or partner engaged in-house, together with all frontline vehicle immobilising operatives all need individual licences. The company itself is not required to be licenced.