4.2 Vehicles illegally parked and causing an obstruction
Vehicles that are illegally parked or are parked in such a way that they are causing an obstruction to pedestrians, can give rise to neighbour disputes. They can also make access for wheelchair users difficult, causing problems for other people with mobility issues, people with young children, and the elderly. There is also the issue of impairing the vision of drivers, which could lead to road traffic collisions, particularly if the offending vehicle is parked in a dangerous position. Poorly parked vehicles can also cause issues for the emergency services, who may require access to an area to deal with an emergency. The same applies to broken down and abandoned vehicles: abandoned vehicles can lower the general appearance of an area and may lead to low-level crimes such as damage and graffiti. This is known as the Broken Windows Theory (Wilson and Kelling, 1982).
Another issue that may be raised by members of the public is people riding pedal cycles on the pavement. The views of the public will vary in relation to pedal cycles, and this can lead to dispute and/or confrontation.
Explore the following interactive to reveal the powers that a PCSO may have in order to deal with illegally parked vehicles and cyclists riding on footpaths. The offences highlighted are not definitive but are included because they are illustrative of the types of powers a PCSO has.