Manchester City Council has come under scrutiny for its extensive use of bailiffs to collect unpaid parking fines.
According to official reports, in the 2022/23 financial year, the council made a staggering 23,510 referrals to debt collectors for parking-related charges.
This equates to 64 bailiff calls per day, highlighting the scale of the issue in the city. The council’s aggressive approach to debt collection has raised eyebrows, with parking fines accounting for more than half of all bailiff referrals.
Out of a total of 43,209 referrals, unpaid parking tickets were responsible for 54 per cent.
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Drivers can be fined £70 for parking infringements in Manchester
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A spokesman for Manchester City Council said: “With tens of thousands of paid-for parking spaces in the city centreas well as numerous other free locations there is little justification for people to park illegally.”
The council’s use of bailiffs extends beyond parking fines. In total, 43,209 bailiff referrals were made, the highest in the country according to Freedom of Information figures.
“Council tax arrears accounted for 16,281 referrals, the second-highest category. However, changes are expected to come in soon,” the spokesman added.
In January, the council agreed to stop using debt collectors for residents who have fallen behind on council tax payments but receive some form of council tax support. This decision followed a year-long campaign by the union ACORN.
The use of bailiffs in Manchester has been declining over the past two decades. In 2005, nearly one in three households faced bailiff action. By 2019, before the pandemic, this had reduced to just one in 13 households.
The council spokesman emphasised that bailiff use is often a last resort: “As in any case where there is outstanding debt the council will always look to help those who ask for it and accounts are only ever escalated to enforcement if there is no other option available to us.”
The authority defended its parking policies, noting that fines can be reduced when paid early and motorists have the right to appeal decisions they believe are incorrect.
Poor parking in the city can see drivers slapped with harsh fines, depending on the severity of the issue.
Drivers caught parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours are subject to the higher-level penalty of £70, although halved if paid early to £35.
Revenue from parking fines serves a purpose, according to the council: “Any money collected from fees and fines is reinvested into the city’s highways network, ensuring that motorists can continue to travel smoothly and roads are regularly maintained.”
“Failure to pay fines ultimately limits the Council’s ability to provide the vital services which keep Manchester running.”
The aggressive parking approach has implications for Manchester residents. With the city potentially introducing the UK’s highest parking permit fees in 2024, up to £538 annually, concerns about debt collection practices may intensify.
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However, the council spokesperson noted that this figure is an average, with cheaper permits available in some areas.
The news was met with anger by residents with one person stating: “Calling bailiffs 64 times a day honestly doesn’t sound like they’re doing it as a last resort…”
