THERE is widespread confusion over who is meant to be enforcing traffic laws on Redbridge's streets, with just weeks to go before the council takes over responsibility from the police.

From July onwards the authority will be in charge of upholding dozens of regulations, such as one-way street signs, yellow box junctions and zigzag ‘no stopping’ zones outside schools.

The Metropolitan Police have said they would continue to enforce the laws until councils like Redbridge take over, but some councillors have accused the police of passing the buck before the July deadline.

And some residents have said the police have told them they have already stopped upholding the traffic laws.

Lib Dem leader, Cllr Hugh Cleaver, told a council meeting: “the police are doing their best to push things on to the council.

“For things such as cars parking on the pavement all the council can do is issue warning notices.

“There is no clear protocol. The whole thing seems a bit confused.

“It’s not surprising when I get a phone call at 11.45pm at night from a resident saying they’ve phoned both the police and council over a traffic problem and each tell them to contact the other.”

Meanwhile this month the council have been issuing cars breaking the regulations with “warning” tickets, in preparation for the switch-over.

The council plans to enforce the rules using a combination of fixed CCTV cameras and a ‘SMART’ mobile camera car which will zip around the borough.

Those caught breaking the law face Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) of up to £120.

But some households have also questioned whether the council is up to the task.

Chelmsford and Derby Road Neighbourhood Watch chairman Frank Cruder said access only signs in the streets surrounding his Woodford Green home would be rendered useless.

He said: “Unless they have cameras at both ends of the roads with someone monitoring them they are not going to catch people using our roads as a rat-run.”

A spokesman for Redbridge Council said: "The council plans to tackle parking and some minor moving traffic contraventions with CCTV, using fixed cameras across the Borough and a specially equipped CCTV vehicle.

"Where areas of Redbridge are not covered by fixed cameras the CCTV vehicle will be used.

"It will target known problem areas, particularly where there are safety concerns as the safety of residents and all road users is of paramount concern to the council.

"Initially the vehicle will be used morning and afternoon at schools across the borough where the problems associated with the drop off and collect runs are growing and causing many complaints and increasing accident risk.

"At other times the vehicle will be deployed to accident hot spots and locations where restrictions are commonly ignored.

"After three months of operation all area committees will have input into the review of how this system is working and how it should be best used in to the future so any problems can be identified and changes made if necessary."

Redbridge Police were unable to comment to the Guardian.