Maidenhead & Windsor

The Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough has welcomed government moves to crack down on clampers - despite the fact that a new Bill may not outlaw them altogether as the council would like.

A Crime and Security Bill, which had its first reading on Thursday 19 November, says the government wants to shut down criminal and exploitative markets, including licensing wheel clamping companies to 'stop unscrupulous companies from imposing exorbitant fines'.

Cllr Phill Bicknell, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead public protection, said the council would be very interested to see the detail of the proposals following a motion earlier this year in which the borough called for an outright ban on wheel clamping and decided to investigate the possibility of using anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) to crack down on the clampers causing distress to so many people, particularly in Windsor.

He said: "Given the outrageous behaviour of clampers in the Royal Borough we feel justified in believing that a ban on clamping is the right way forward.

"We doubt the government will go that far but we hope there will be a move to cap the fines that clampers can impose and that there will be a proper system of licensing and a code of conduct that covers clamping companies, not just those who actually do the clamping."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead