TOUGH regulations could be introduced to monitor rogue clamping firms following complaints about their practices.

Neil Gerrard, Labour MP for Walthamstow has welcomed the announcement that the Government will soon launch a consultation proposing better regulation of wheel clamping companies, after he put forward a motion to the House of Commons urging it to introduce regulation, which 50 MPs have signed.

Currently, parking enforcement companies which operate on private property, such as Citywatch, are unregulated and are instead asked to follow Codes of Practices laid out by the British Parking Association (BPA), which are not enforceable by law.

The Government is considering introducing compulsory licensing of wheel clamping companies and standards of conduct, which would be enforceable, that could include a maximum amount for penalties charged, a minimum time between clamping and the removal of the car, and rules about warning signs’ size and visibility.

Mr Gerrard said “We have seen far too many examples locally of totally unacceptable behaviour by wheel clamping companies operating on private land such as garage forecourts and private roads behind shops.

“I am really pleased that the Government is proposing to take action and I will be pressing them to do so as quickly as possible.

“It is essential that the new regulations include limits on what people can be charged when they are clamped, and that there is a proper appeals procedure. I hope that the regulations will help to drive the rogue companies out of business.”

Many complaints have been received by the Guardian by people whose cars have been clamped in private car parks and in petrol forecourts including from Nicholas Taylor, who staged an eight-hour protest after his car was clamped by Citywatch at a BP station in Forest Road, Walthamstow.

We have also received complaints about cars being impounded too quickly after being clamped, missing warning signs, and a lack of any appeals process.

Father-of-three Muhittin Aydin, who is registered disabled, is in the process of taking legal action against Citywatch after he claims that his car was clamped in a petrol station car park where no warning sign was visible.

He said: “They should charge £125 maximum, not £500. What is going on is unacceptable.

“I would welcome regulation, but it will be too late for all those people who have already lost their money.”