Waltham Forest will now crack down on drivers who dodge parking tickets even if they are outside the borough.

In a London first, the borough will clamp or seize vehicles with three or more outstanding parking tickets, regardless of where they are parked, until the debt is paid.

Previously, drivers would only be targeted if they were parked in contravention and within Waltham Forest borough.

Deputy leader and cabinet member for the environment Cllr Clyde Loakes (Lab, Leytonstone) wrote to his equivalent in every London borough warning them of the change earlier this month.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Cllr Clyde Loakes at the Mini Holland launch in 2015

He said: “We are the first London borough to use the powers available to us to crack down against those who feel that the rules of the road do not apply to them.

“Persistent evaders are those who show a pattern of disrespect to other road users by repeatedly ignoring fines for offences including parking on double yellow lines, disabled bays, or parking in CPZs without the correct permit.

“It is only fair to the vast majority of road users who obey the rules that we take action against those who do not.

“We have written to our neighbouring boroughs as a courtesy to let them know we will be looking for persistent evaders in their areas and enforcing against them.”