Concessionary travel for traffic wardens

Report: 13
Date: 15 March 2001
By: Commissioner

Summary

This paper provides information about an offer by Transport for London Buses to allow Metropolitan Police Service traffic wardens to travel, in or out of uniform, without charge, at all times on production of their civil staff pass.

A. Recommendation

The Human Resources Committee is asked to accept this offer.

B. Supporting information

Background

1. Metropolitan Police Service Traffic Wardens are an integral part of policing the capital. Their primary role is to enforce stopping, parking and loading restrictions on London's network of 315 miles of priority roads (red routes), for which the MPS has a Service Level Agreement with the Traffic Director for London.

Operation Butler

2. Operation Butler was a recent initiative, which involved traffic wardens patrolling on and from buses on one specific bus route. The idea simply was that if the bus were hindered during its journey because of an illegally parked vehicle, the traffic warden riding on the bus would alight and take appropriate action. To facilitate traffic wardens moving on and off the buses whilst on duty, without paying fares, passes were issued by London Buses to be shown to the drivers on request.

3. An initial one-month trial in November 2000 on Route 185 (Lewisham to Victoria) proved a resounding success. There was a significant increase in bus punctuality, and a reduced number of incidents of disorder and crime on the buses. Many passengers commented on how much safer they felt when a uniformed traffic warden was on the bus - traffic wardens have direct access to police communications and intelligence systems and thus can contribute to police management of incidents. All bus drivers and traffic wardens involved strongly supported the scheme and there was unanimous agreement that the operation should be extended beyond the pilot.

Offer of concessionary travel for traffic wardens

4. London Buses and the MPS are keen to extend this initiative to other red routes and accordingly similar operations are now underway elsewhere in London. Part of the overall strategy developed with the London Bus Initiative is for traffic wardens to be permitted to travel free on the buses when engaged in Operation Butler on red routes on production of their civil staff pass (which is endorsed with the words "Traffic Warden").

5. The successful outcomes of these operations has led Transport for London Buses circulating the following notice to all London Buses garages on 27 February:

"From immediate affect, until further notice, Metropolitan Police Traffic Wardens are to be allowed to travel, in or out of uniform, without charge, at all times on production of their warrant card"

6. This unsolicited offer applies to all traffic wardens on any London Bus at any time. It is important to note that this Notice has been issued in advance of a formal agreement with the MPS and its Police Authority.

7. The MPS is not being asked to subsidise this arrangement and it is the view of the MPS Head of Finance that take up of the offer by traffic wardens, whether on or off duty, will be impossible to quantify. Hence, it is highly unlikely that the Inland Revenue would regard it as a taxable benefit.

8. Following consultation with the author of this paper and the MPS Head of Finance, Superintendent Finnimore, Traffic OCU has advised London Buses and the Traffic Warden Service that whilst in principle the MPS welcomes this offer, it needs to be considered by the Metropolitan Police Authority. Until such time as the offer has been accepted formally by the Metropolitan Police Authority, traffic wardens have been instructed only to avail themselves of the facility of free travel whilst on duty and in uniform.

9. The MPS Head of Finance has spoken to the MPA Treasurer who is content that acceptance of this offer (as outlined) will have no financial implications for the MPA.

10. Reduced journey times, and less crime and acts of disorder on the buses are of benefit not only to Transport for London and the MPS, but also to the people of London. If the offer of free travel on London buses for traffic wardens off duty is also accepted, it is anticipated that this will be a significant and much needed aid to recruitment and retention. (As at 31 January 2001 there were 250 vacancies for traffic wardens, which represents a shortfall of 26 per cent.)

C. Financial implications

There are no financial implications in accepting this offer from Transport for London Buses.

D. Background papers

None.

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Alastair Thompson.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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