Traffic wardens in Glasgow say they have been ordered to report drug dealing and violent crime they spot while patrolling the city's notorious Four Corners area, a move they claim puts a “target on their backs.”
The instruction came during an ongoing police clampdown near the junction of Argyle Street and Jamaica Street, an area known to parking teams as 12 Beat. Wardens said they face daily threats of assault and being spat on, with their union warning the new duty would increase the danger.
Union and Federation Back Wardens' Concerns
David Hume, GMB organiser in Glasgow City Council, said: “Parking attendants already face horrific abuse and aggression every day on the streets of Glasgow. They need the full support of management, greater protection and rigorous risk assessments.”
He added: “Our members are not ad hoc crime fighters. They are lone workers - often women - in uniform, being asked to patrol streets that have become synonymous with trouble and disorder.”
The Scottish Police Federation backed the wardens, with General Secretary David Kennedy saying the city lacks enough police officers for the protection needed. He said: “Traffic wardens are not police officers, and they should never be expected to undertake responsibilities that could place them at additional risk of violence, intimidation or retaliation.”
Wardens Describe Daily Abuse
Parking attendants patrol 12 Beat, which includes St Enoch Square and surrounding streets, solo. They said bosses asked them last week to report any wrongdoing to senior management at the end of their shift, without explaining how the information would be used.
One warden said: “I've been spat on, shoved, and called every name under the sun. It is horrendous and now I'm meant to be reporting crime too? It's just another target on our back.”
Another long-serving warden said abuse in the city centre has surged in recent years, describing it as “an angry, angry place” where people see the uniform as fair game.
Council Response and Police Measures
Glasgow City Council said staff were being encouraged to report issues so bosses could build an accurate picture of what they encounter. A spokesman said: “Staff safety and well-being is always an absolute priority. Any abuse directed towards our staff is completely unacceptable.”
The council noted its health and safety reporting systems do not currently indicate specific issues with the city centre compared to other areas, and liaison with Police Scotland provided reassurance. However, it has encouraged staff to report observations to allow adjustments to working practices.
Police have extended a city centre dispersal zone, which can ban groups of two or more posing a risk to public safety from the area for 24 hours, until December. Officers used the powers 1,362 times since they were introduced in March. Police chiefs said they were considering the next phase of their response, including occupying premises near the Four Corners with council enforcement staff and third-sector organisations.
In April, around 100 Glasgow parking warden roles were empty as council chiefs considered alternative options, including outsourcing to a private company as Edinburgh does. Paul Sweeney, Glasgow MSP for Scottish Labour, urged the council to work with GMB and ensure workers' safety comes first.
