Police in riot van hand out parking tickets as parents collect their disabled children from school

The surprise raid was mounted to hand out parking tickets as parents struggled to pick up their wheelchair-bound youngsters from Hilltop special school in Maltby, near Rotherham.

Now the police officers have been accused of being "rude" and "heavy handed" after they dished out on-the-spot fines on parents waiting for children in wheelchairs.

One parent, Dave Phillips, was handed a 30 fixed penalty when he stopped for five minutes to pick up his 16-year-old son Matthew.

Mr Phillips, who had driven 15 miles from his home in Retford, Nottingham, said: "The police response has been heavy handed and it's the kids they are penalising, not us.

"The police behaviour was unpleasant and completely unnecessary .Nine officers and a police van created an intimidating atmosphere around the school.

"I was approached by a young policewoman who told me to 'move' - not 'excuse me, sir. I explained to the officer I was going to park here for five minutes to get my son.

"I said he's a wheelchair user and we have got a side loading lift. 'Not my problem', was the reply, 'move it'.

"I refused and she gave me a 30 ticket, but it was her attitude that annoyed me more. I've been parking in the same spot for the last 12 years, there are no yellow lines or restrictions to be seen."

Mr Phillips said parents had been told by police to park up to 150 yards away from the school entrance, which was too far for one parent to push a wheelchair.

He added: "It's not like parking outside a normal school and letting your kid run to the car and driving away.

"These kids have got profound difficulties and there has been no exceptions. For this to happen outside a disabled school is disgusting."

Headteacher at Hilltop School, Peter Leach, said there had been long-standing problems with parking as the school is in a quiet residential area and both staff and pupil numbers have grown significantly in recent years.

Mr Leach said: "Our pupils don't have any choice, they have to be at school on time like any other school. Dropping children off and letting them make their own way to school is not an option.

"Our children have all got complex learning difficulties and a lot of our children have additional problems. Our parents are carers.They get very little respite they have a lot of challenges to face every day seven days a week.

"School is part of their respite structure as well as providing a way of educating their children , so when parents bring their children to our school they have often had a hard night and they need a break - not an argument with people."

A meeting to discuss the parking problems with transport providers and the police had been organised for October 7 and Mr Leach said he was surprised when so many officers turned up without prior warning.

He said: "I don't know why so many officers were sent. I was somewhat surprised that they made such a big issue of it. As a result we are asking parents to be careful where they park."

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: "Badly parked vehicles in the area cause disruption and it can be dangerous. "They only turned up in a riot van because it was the only vehicle available at the time.

"They were advising parents to move their cars if they were parked illegally, as inconsiderate parking in the area has been made a priority .

"Leaflets have been handed out as it has become a contentious issue with parents and we need to ensure the safety of children. We are asking parents to park considerately and this operation will continue."