Council parking warden pushed to ground by driver

The footage shows a van owner becoming aggressive against parking wardens who gave him a ticket

Video of a parking warden being thrown to the ground has been revealed by a council amid a rise in violence against front-line staff.

The civil enforcement officer was attacked after a penalty charge notice (PCN) was issued on Victory Road, Coventry last June.

Coventry City Council said the number of aggressive incidents, including staff being punched, kicked and spat at, had doubled in the past four years.

Deputy leader Abdul Salam Khan said: "Abuse in any form against council staff will not be tolerated".

The video, captured by a body-worn camera at 08:30 GMT on 23 June, showed a member of the public verbally abusing two wardens after a PCN was placed on his van.

The van owner then threw one of the officers to the ground.

According to council figures, reports of violence and abuse towards staff had risen from 66 in 2020-21 to 129 in 2023-24.

The authority described the violent attack on the parking warden, for which the individual did not face prosecution, as one of "many incidents of assault and abuse".

'We will prosecute'

Male and female staff had also reported being driven at by speeding vehicles, with the likes of full drinks bottles, eggs and a road sign being thrown at them, the council said.

The council introduced bodycams about six years ago to act as a deterrent, with footage captured also shared with police for evidential purposes.

The authority is running a campaign called No Excuse for Abuse, and said the rise in public aggression could "not be allowed to continue".

“There are too many incidents where some people cross the line and become abusive, as in this case where two officers were simply trying to do their job and help residents," Mr Khan said.

“The message to the abusive minority is now clear – we will inform police and we will look to prosecute where possible to protect our staff."