Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey needs to introduce regulations for private clamping companies to ensure proper systems of control and to stop rogue behaviour from entering the industry.
AA’s director of policy Conor Faughnan said his company has received a growing number of complaints about clamping and is, for the first time, hearing stories comparable to some of the “bad practices occurring more regularly in the UK”.
He said a system of regulation of clamping companies would ensure that proper standards of decency and customer care are maintained.
Mr Faughnan said: “There are stories in the UK of deplorable behaviour, little better than demanding money with menaces, from private clampers.
“Although we have not seen such extremes here we are beginning to hear stories of abuse.”
“The solution is to make sure that any private clamper has to obey the same rules as clampers used by the local authority.”
Mr Faughnan called on Mr Dempsey introduce new standards for the industry including: clamping under licence, mandatory display of identification as required by private security personnel, limits of fees and a clear structure for complaint or appeal.
“Intervention now would be timely and would put the legitimate business and its legitimate customers on a more secure footing,” he concluded.