What is the average time in weeks of disputed parking fines being handed over to private enforcement agencies for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022?
Devon County Council (DCC) does not hold this information.
We believe that compliance with this request would exceed the appropriate costs limit under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The cost limit is £450 or 18 hours of officer time.
We estimate that it would take in excess of 5 minutes, per case, to review and extract the information requested.
However, in the interests of providing advice and assistance, we are able to provide the following information:
In 2020, 5,969 cases were passed to bailiffs for recovery.
In 2021, 5,994 cases were passed to bailiffs for recovery.
In 2022 (to date), 6,718 cases have been passed to bailiffs for recovery.
All cases follow a statutory time line once a PCN has been issued. The details of the progression of a PCN is found in the Statutory Guidance issued to Local Authorities.
Of these disputed fines how many are handed over despite having proof of car parking payment?
Zero.
If evidence is submitted at any of the three stages of appeal, and the evidence is accepted as valid proof by the Council, the case would be cancelled at the point of decision and the appellant would be informed. In this scenario, the case would close and it would not advance as a debt to bailiffs.