Decriminalisation passes the job from police to council staff

The county is set to be latest area to take part in a decriminalisation scheme where police hand over the job.

Parking wardens would be replaced by attendants, similar to those who already look after council car parks.

The scheme would also mean the money from fines could be kept locally instead of passed to central funds. Any changes are about three years away.

Better transport

Chris Briggs from Lincolnshire County Council said some councils feel the cover provided is "inadequate".

He added: "It removes the power of enforcement from police to local authorities.

"The fines, instead of going to the Treasury, would go to the local authority to be used for further transport improvements."

Former Lincolnshire chief constable Richard Childs has reviewed the scheme and said there were fears about councils taking over the job just for the money.

In other areas, police have been happy to hand over the job as it means they no longer have to fund traffic wardens.

'Making money'

He said: "There were some concerns that people did not understand what happens to the money.

"Some thought local authorities were doing it just to make money."

But he said there have been problems in other areas where contractors have been paid to issue a set number of tickets, and he said it should be "illegal" for contractors to have a quota.