Cowboy wheel clampers face ban

It follows concerns that some parking enforcement companies are extorting money from unsuspecting drivers.

But some critics believe the new rules could just give selfish drivers the freedom to park wherever they want.

The ban will be introduced in the Government's Freedom Bill in November and could be in place by early next year.

Once in force, anyone who clamps a vehicle or tows it away on private land will face tough penalties to prevent motorists becoming victims of rogue clamping firms.

An independent tribunal with the power to give motorists their money back had already been included in legislation introduced by the last Government as part of moves to regulate the system, which also required clampers to sign up to a code of conduct.

Equalities and criminal information minister Lynne Featherstone said: "This is the right answer, an outright ban. It's come about because of the level of complaints."

She said some firms were operating a "sort of entrapment" with poor signage, extortionate fees and vehicles being towed away.

"Motorists find they didn't even know they were parking on private land," she said.

Under current rules, wheel clampers must hold a front-line licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA), with supervisors or directors holding a non-front-line licence.

The ban comes two decades after the practice was outlawed in Scotland.

Celebrity lawyer Nick Freeman welcomed the ban, which he described as "long overdue".