Data recently released by London Councils shows the number of clamps fitted to vehicles in 2013/14 fell to 1,656 - down from 8,273 the previous year - a drop of 80%.

The figures also show penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued by London local authorities and Transport for London (TfL) for minor offences fell to their lowest level in five years (down by more than 10,000 to 992,516 for 2013/14).  This decrease coincides with the number of appeals lodged with the Parking And Traffic Appeals Services (PATAS) also falling to a five-year low, down more than 1,000 to 54,129. Over the same period, almost half of all parking appeals were won by the motorist – 47.8%.

Julian Bell, Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee (TEC), said: “These figures show boroughs have moved away from clamping as a method of parking enforcement and are focussing their resources on methods which allow traffic to keep moving.  The reality is now clamping is only being used in special cases and against the most persistent offenders.”