Police have clarified the legal position when unknown motorists park in a bay, car park, or private area they have no right to use. The guidance, published on the official Ask The Police website run by UK forces, addresses a common frustration for households, particularly those with rear access parking where drivers often wrongly assume spaces are for visitors.
What the police advise
In response to a resident's question about action against unauthorised parking on private land, the police said: "If you rent the land, we would suggest that you speak to the landlord/council with a view to them taking action. If you own the land, you could consider employing a private parking company to issue parking tickets."
However, the police noted that using the law to deal with unauthorised vehicles on private land can be both time-consuming and expensive. They added: "Usually, it is far more practical to take steps to restrict access using gates/barriers/fencing, etc., to ensure that only those who are entitled to enter gain access."
They also stated: "If the gates/barriers/fencing are damaged, then it may be possible to take action against those responsible for the offence of criminal damage."
Metropolitan Police guidance on trespassing
The Metropolitan Police offers similar advice, stating: "If someone parks their vehicle on your driveway without your permission, this is trespassing. This is a civil dispute and not something we can help you with. If it happens repeatedly with the same person/vehicle you might want to seek advice from Citizens Advice or a solicitor, but we would always recommend having a polite word with the driver first, as there may have been a simple misunderstanding."
When a vehicle blocks access to a driveway, Ask The Police experts advise first checking with neighbours to see if they know who owns it, so the owner can be asked to move it.
Blocked driveways and Civil Parking Enforcement
The police further explain: "In most areas, local councils have now taken on responsibility for enforcing parking provisions under what is known as Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE). Under CPE, it's an offence to park a vehicle that blocks a dropped kerb driveway."
Residents can check if their local council has taken on CPE via the GOV.UK website. If the council has taken on CPE, obstructing vehicles should usually be reported directly to them. If the council has not taken on CPE, the local police force should be contacted instead, with responses varying by force and council area. In some places, officers may only attend if the vehicle becomes an obstruction, such as when a car is blocked in.
Parking on public roads outside homes
On public roads, the Metropolitan Police explains: "If a parking space is available on a public road, even if it's directly outside your house, anyone is allowed to park in it. We appreciate this can be frustrating, especially if spaces are hard to come by on your street."
