Traffic wardens demand body armour

Parking attendants are demanding body armour to cope with a mounting public backlash.

They want police-style anti-stab vests to protect them from attacks from angry drivers.

Unison officials say their members in Hammersmith are being kicked, punched and threatened with knives. Some have been pushed into the path of oncoming vehicles.

The demand for protection comes as fresh proof emerged that parking attendants are being ordered to meet strict ticketing targets, according to documents seen by the Evening Standard. Each must issue 12 fines per shift under a contract signed by Lambeth council. If they fail to meet the strict target their employer - Control Plus - faces tough financial penalties.

Today, Geoff Martin of Unison, said: "We are hearing of people being pressurised and humiliated if they don't issue enough tickets. The whole thing stinks."

The internal papers from Lambeth show that ticket quotas must be checked by the contractor daily to ensure attendants give out enough fines. Under a deal between the contractor and council 200,000 parking fines must be handed out each year - well above the number previously issued.

Today, insiders at Lambeth attacked the contract which has only just come to light but which has been in force since August.

One source said: "It is totally wrong to set an arbitrary target; on a quiet day attendants will have to hand out false tickets to remain on target."

A spokesman for Lambeth council said the contract was similar to that in many other boroughs.