A joint patrol between Ealing Council and the Metropolitan Police handed out 73 penalty charges to illegally parked vehicles in Southall. 

On Friday 24th March between 9pm and 11pm a team of officers went on a patrol of the locations where there have been the highest number of complaints about illegally parked cars, such as High Street, Avenue Road, Uxbridge Road, and Beaconsfield Road. 

During the patrol, officers handed out 73 penalty charges notices for a series of different offences, which included parking on a dropped kerb pram ramp, which is designed to help blind people cross the road. 

Council leader, councillor Peter Mason said: "There is a vibrant night-time economy in Southall, and while we welcome people to our town, we expect residents and visitors alike to treat the area with respect. Increased traffic can sometimes bring an increase in illegal car parking and anti-social behaviour. 

"The council and the police will continue to take action against perpetrators of these breaches of the law. Illegal parking and anti-social behaviour are not acceptable at any time in Southall or any of our other seven towns. 

"For most, receiving an £65 fine is exactly the wake-up call they need to think twice when parking." 

These patrols in Southall have led to 190 parking charge notices being handed out so far this year. 

Those who are given the parking charge notices are given a fine of £65 and have 14 days to pay this before it increases to £130 and if it continues to go unpaid or no representation has been made then the fine increases by 50% and additional steps are taken to collect the payment.