Parents' fury after police send riot van to hand out parking tickets outside disabled school



Anger: Parents waiting for their children were furious when police handed our parking tickets

Police have been accused of being 'heavy-handed' after sending a riot van to hand out parking tickets at a disabled school.

Parents were stunned when the vehicle pulled up as they were helping the children in wheelchairs from the school to their cars.



Officers were accused of being 'rude' for dishing out on the spot penalties as they waited at Hilltop Special School in Maltby near Rotherham.



Many of the 90 youngsters at the school are ferried to and fro by council mini buses and taxis - and their drivers were also given stiff warnings.



The tea-time operation left parents and head teacher Peter Leach surprised - but South Yorkshire Police are unrepentant and have vowed to continued to target parents.



One of the victims Dave Phillips was handed a £30 fixed penalty when he stopped for five minutes to pick up his wheelchair bound son Matthew, aged 16.



He had driven 15 miles from his home in Retford, Nottinghamshire, and parked outside the school before being confronted by a police woman.



He said : 'The police response has been heavy handed - and it's the kids they are penalising not us. The police behaviour was unpleasant and completely unnecessary.



'Nine officers and a police van created an intimidating atmosphere around the school.

I was approached by a young policewoman who told me to "move" - not "excuse me sir" -- it was just a total ignorant attitude .



'I explained to the officer I was going to park here for five minutes to get my son. I said 'He's a wheelchair user and we have got a side loading lift', - "not my problem" was the reply, "move it" so I said "no, I'm stopping here I'm going to put my son in."

'She said: "You shift" and when I pointed to my son in his wheelchair she replied: "Move it." I refused and she gave me a £30 ticket - but it was her attitude that annoyed me more.



'I've been parking in the same spot for the last 12 years, there are no yellow lines or restrictions to be seen.



'Nine officers outside a disabled outside a disabled school, it's disgusting . There was no courtesy, if that's public policing it's a disgrace.'

He said parents had been told by police to park down the road 100 to 150 yards away from the school entrance which was too far for one parent to push a wheelchair.



School headteacher Peter Leach said there had been long standing problems with parking as the school was in a quiet residential area and the numbers of both pupils and staff had grown significantly in recent years.



A meeting to discuss the problems with transport providers and the police had been organised for October 7th.



Mr Leach said he was surprised when so many officers turned up outside school without prior warning.



He added there were problems because a fleet of 25 buses and taxis brought children too and from school each day.



He said : 'This is also a very hilly site so there is nowhere for a staff car park and it is a difficult situation. But I don't know why so many officers were sent - I was somewhat surprised that they made such a big issue of it. As a result we are asking parents to be careful where they park.'



A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: 'Badly parked vehicles in the area cause disruption and it can be dangerous. They only turned up in a riot van because it was the only vehicle available at the time.



'They were advising parents to move their cars if they were parked illegally, as inconsiderate parking in the area has been made a priority .



'Leaflets have been handed out as it has become a contentious issue with parents and we need to ensure the safety of children. We are asking parents to park considerately and this operation will continue.'





