Civil enforcement officer

Civil enforcement officers patrol roads and public car parks, making sure that drivers have parked legally and considerately. They check that drivers have a valid ticket or permit for their stay, and issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to those who don’t follow parking rules.

Also known as:

Enforcement agent
Traffic warden

Work activities

Civil enforcement officers patrol roads and public car parks, checking parked vehicles. They issue parking fines, known as Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), using hand-held computers, to drivers who:

Park on double yellow lines.
Park on single yellow lines at times which are not allowed.
Park in loading or marked bays, taxi ranks or bus stops.
Park in restricted areas (for example, for disabled people or residents only) without a valid ticket or permit.
Do not have a ticket or have overstayed their parking time.

A PCN gives details about how to pay the fine – civil enforcement officers do not take this payment themselves. Civil enforcement officers:

Carry out foot patrols of an agreed area.
Make notes about the PCNs they issue.
Take photos of parking offences, in case the information is needed as evidence in an appeal.
Report untaxed or abandoned vehicles and arrange for them to be removed or clamped.
Report missing or damaged signs.

They might also:

Empty cash from machines and carry out counting, sorting and banking duties.
Make sure that ticket machines are working properly and have enough tickets in them.
Make a note of, and report, any damage or anything that might affect parking, such as surfacing, line markings, lighting or signs.
Make a note of any environmental offences, such as rubbish left in public areas or graffiti, and arrange for it to be removed.
Check registration numbers against a list of stolen vehicles.
Replace, or put up, information notices in parking areas.
Assist with parking arrangements during special events.
Provide back-up to school crossing patrol services.
Complete timesheets, forms and reports.
Deal with complaints.
Monitor, and report on, changes in parking patterns.
Report criminal parking activity to the police.
Check non-mobile objects in parking places, such as skips, to make sure they comply with their licence.
Give evidence in court, where necessary.

Civil enforcement officers wear a uniform and usually work as part of a team. They use mobile radio communication systems to communicate with colleagues. They vary the pattern of visiting and patrolling car parks and usually work shifts. Work takes place outdoors in all kinds of weather conditions. New parking regulations mean that remote enforcement could become more common. For example, CCTV cameras could increasingly be used to detect parking offences.

Personal qualities and skills

As a civil enforcement officer, you need:

To work well on your own and as part of a team.
Literacy and numeracy skills.
Accuracy in recording information.
Basic IT skills.
Physical fitness – you’ll be patrolling on foot a lot.
A current, clean driving licence.
Ability to use your initiative.
A flexible, polite and helpful approach.
To be observant.
To enjoy working outdoors in all types of weather.
Decision-making skills.
A neat and tidy appearance.
To remain calm when dealing with potentially difficult situations.
Willingness to keep up to date with legislation relating to parking rules.
Skills gained working with the public, in security or in cash collecting, could be useful.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for civil enforcement officers vary. Civil enforcement officers earn in the range of £18,000 - £26,000 a year. Earnings could increase with shift allowances.

Hours of work for civil enforcement officers vary according to local parking conditions; there might be early starts (for example, 6.45am) and late finishes (up to 10pm or later), worked in shifts. They usually work some Saturdays, with a day off during the week. In many areas, they work on Sundays and bank holidays on a rota system. Overtime might be available. Opportunities for part-time work, job-share and seasonal work are available in some areas.

Employers are local authorities, and private firms contracted to the council. Opportunities for civil enforcement officers occur in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, on job boards, on the LGJobs and individual local authority websites, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.

Entry routes and training

Entry requirements might vary, however there are usually few academic requirements.

Learning is both off-the-job and on-the-job and leads to a relevant qualification. Training also involves keeping up to date with local traffic regulations and national traffic laws. Further information about qualifications in the parking profession is available from the British Parking Association.

With training and experience, it might be possible to move into supervisory or managerial positions. Senior roles are more likely to be desk-based rather than being out patrolling, and could involve managing staff, overseeing local council parking services and analysing data.

Qualifications

You might not need any educational qualifications to enter this job, but basic maths and English are essential. Some local authorities might ask for GCSEs in, for example, English and maths. A relevant work-related qualification, such as an Edexcel (BTEC) level 2 First qualification, might also be accepted for entry. You are likely to need a full driving licence.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Candidates with skills gained in customer care, such as dealing with the public in a face-to-face role or in security work, have an advantage.

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