Parking in Staffordshire — Who Deals with What & How to Report Issues

We all share responsibility for keeping our roads safe, accessible, and welcoming, knowing who deals with different parking issues helps ensure problems are reported to the right organisation and resolved quickly.

Who deals with parking offences?

Local councils (Civil Parking Enforcement)

Most everyday parking restrictions are enforced by your local borough or district council. Civil Enforcement Officers (traffic wardens) can issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs).

The council typically deals with:

• Parking on yellow lines

• Overstaying in pay-and-display bays

• Parking in residents’ permit zones without a permit

• Parking in disabled bays without a valid Blue Badge

• Parking across dropped kerbs

• Car parks owned by the council

The police focus on parking that is dangerous, obstructive, or part of wider criminal activity:

The Police typically deal with:

• Dangerous parking (e.g. near junctions or blocking sight lines)

• Obstruction of the highway or pavements

• Blocking emergency access

• Parking that could cause an immediate safety risk

• Abandoned vehicles in certain circumstances (suspected stolen, left in a dangerous location, insecure) 

• Vehicles causing anti-social behaviour or linked to crime

Who to report to:

Council parking issues

Contact your local district or borough council parking enforcement team, reports can usually be made online via your local council’s website.

Newcastle-under-Lyme: www.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk 

Staffordshire: www.staffordshire.gov.uk 

If you’re unsure which council area you are in, visit your council website or search “report a parking problem” along with your town name.

Dangerous or obstructive parking, report to Staffordshire Police using:

• Online reporting via the Staffordshire Police website: www.staffordshire.police.uk 

• Non-emergency number 101

If there is an immediate danger to life or serious obstruction, always call 999.

Abandoned vehicles

Report to your local council, environmental or street scene team.

General advice

• Always provide the location, vehicle registration, description, and photos if safe to do so.

• Do not confront drivers.

• Use emergency services only when there is a genuine immediate risk.

By reporting issues correctly, you help keep Staffordshire’s roads safer and more accessible for everyone.

Thank you for helping keep our communities safe.