Parking nightmares

Parking can be a headache. There are no two ways about it, especially if you’re trying to park somewhere new. Not knowing the rules or security of a parking spot could result in a ticket or even put your car at risk of crime.

We, the temporary car insurance experts at Tempcover, have revealed the areas with the highest number of police force-issued parking offences in England, as well as the places with the most vehicle offences.

The top 10 parking offence hotspots in England

The latest government data shows that parking-related offences, such as causing an obstruction, violating waiting restrictions, and parking illegally, surged to 20,547 incidents in 2023 – an 11% increase from the previous year.

1 - Police force: Merseyside

Obstruction, waiting and parking offences per 100,000 people: 211.7

2 - Police force: Cambridgeshire

Obstruction, waiting and parking offences per 100,000 people: 176.0

3 - Police force: South Yorkshire

Obstruction, waiting and parking offences per 100,000 people: 99.9

4 - Police force: Cheshire

Obstruction, waiting and parking offences per 100,000 people: 84.5

5 - Police force: Norfolk

Obstruction, waiting and parking offences per 100,000 people: 53.3

6 - Police force: West Yorkshire

Obstruction, waiting and parking offences per 100,000 people: 52.5.

7 - Police force: Greater Manchester

Obstruction, waiting and parking offences per 100,000 people: 211.7

8 - Police force: Metropolitan Police

Obstruction, waiting and parking offences per 100,000 people: 47.4

9 - Police force: Warwickshire

Obstruction, waiting and parking offences per 100,000 people: 40.0

10 - Police force: Lancashire

Obstruction, waiting and parking offences per 100,000 people: 37.1

Merseyside | 211.7 offences per 100,000 people

Merseyside has the highest number of parking offences in England, with almost 212 per 100,000 people — nearly 20% higher than Cambridgeshire in second place.

Liverpool, as the biggest city in the region, is likely a driving factor in this figure. With its busy city centre, major transport hubs like Lime Street Station, and tourist hotspots such as the Albert Dock, demand for parking may outweigh supply. Drivers may often resort to parking in restricted zones, blocking roads, or overstaying in limited-time bays.

Cambridgeshire | 176.0 offences per 100,000 people

Cambridgeshire is in second place with 176 obstructions, waiting and parking offences per 100,000 people.

Cambridge has a historic city centre with narrow streets and pedestrian-priority zones, meaning car parking can be extremely limited. While the local council does run a Park & Ride system, it seems many drivers still take their chances parking illegally.

South Yorkshire | 99.9 offences per 100,000 people

South Yorkshire comes in third with just under 100 offences per 100,000 people, but that’s still a big drop compared to Merseyside and Cambridgeshire.

This police force covers areas like Doncaster and Sheffield, with the latter being home to busy leisure parks and arenas.

Where are parking offences rising the fastest?

1. South Yorkshire

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2018): 265

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2023): 1,405

% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023: 430%

2. Norfolk

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2018): 146

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2023): 497

% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023: 240%

3. Nottinghamshire

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2018): 8

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2023): 22

% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023: 175%

4. Lincolnshire

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2018): 21

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2023): 51

% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023: 143%

5. North Yorkshire

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2018): 120

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2023): 288

% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023: 140%

6. Staffordshire

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2018): 57

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2023): 128

% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023: 125%

7. Dorset

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2018): 30

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2023): 62

% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023: 107%

8. Derbyshire

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2018): 36

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2023): 70

% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023: 94%

9. Merseyside

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2018): 2,448

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2023): 3,083

% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023: 26%

10. Metropolitan Police

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2018): 3,106

Number of obstruction, waiting and parking offences (2023): 3,805

% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023: 23%

1. South Yorkshire | 430% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023

South Yorkshire tops the list for parking violations, with a staggering 430% increase in parking offences over a five-year period. The police force recorded a total of 1,405 cases in 2023 – equating to 99.9 parking-related offences per 100,000 people – and 265 in 2018.

2. Norfolk | 240% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023

Norfolk ranks second, with a 240% increase in recorded violations since 2018. In 2023, the police force prosecuted 53.3 parking-related offences per 100,000 people, resulting in 497 in total, while this figure was just 146 in 2018.

3. Nottinghamshire | 175% increase in number of offences from 2018-2023

Nottinghamshire completes the top three, with a 175% surge in parking violations since 2018. In 2023, the police force prosecuted 22 vehicle-related parking offences, equating to 1.9 offences per 100,000 people – an increase from 0.7 per 100,000 in 2018.

To tackle this rising number of parking offences, Claire Wills-Mckissick, vehicle insurance expert at Tempcover, commented:

“To help avoid parking fines, drivers should take the time to familiarise themselves with the meanings behind waiting and parking signs, ensuring they don’t stop in restricted areas or park on streets where it’s prohibited during certain hours.

“Referring to the Highway Code is a great way to gain valuable insights into parking rules, as parking regulations can change frequently. Staying informed about local restrictions can also help to avoid unexpected fines and ensure you’re following the latest guidelines.

“Where possible, using digital parking apps can make parking easier by helping drivers locate legal spaces, pay conveniently, and set reminders to avoid overstaying.”

Areas with the most vehicle crimes

Between April 2023 and March 2024, over 397,000 vehicle crimes were reported across 172 local authorities.

Using available ONS data, we’ve found the areas in England with the highest rate of vehicle offences per vehicle miles for the year 2023–24.

The top 10 areas with the highest vehicle offence rates per vehicle

1 - Local authority: Haringey

Estimated annual vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 318,100,000

Vehicle offences* (2023 – 24): 4,008

Offences per million vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 12.6

2 - Local authority: Camden

Estimated annual vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 273,800,000

Vehicle offences* (2023 – 24): 3,079

Offences per million vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 11

3 - Local authority: Islington

Estimated annual vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 225,500,000

Vehicle offences* (2023 – 24): 2,251

Offences per million vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 110.0

4 - Local authority: Kensington and Chelsea

Estimated annual vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 306,500,000

Vehicle offences* (2023 – 24): 3,023

Offences per million vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 9.9

5 - Local authority: Hammersmith and Fulham

Estimated annual vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 299,600,000

Vehicle offences* (2023 – 24): 2,945

Offences per million vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 9.8

6 - Local authority: Westminster

Estimated annual vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 448,300,000

Vehicle offences* (2023 – 24): 4,336

Offences per million vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 9.7

7 - Local authority: Hackney

Estimated annual vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 271,900,000

Vehicle offences* (2023 – 24): 2,567

Offences per million vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 9.4

8 - Local authority: Newham

Estimated annual vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 554,000,000

Vehicle offences* (2023 – 24): 4,821

Offences per million vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 8.7

9 - Local authority: Wandsworth

Estimated annual vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 452,600,000

Vehicle offences* (2023 – 24): 3,839

Offences per million vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 8.5

10 - Local authority: Lewisham

Estimated annual vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 445,200,000

Vehicle offences* (2023 – 24): 3,240

Offences per million vehicle miles (2023 – 24): 7.3

*Vehicle offences include: aggravated vehicle theft, theft from a vehicle, unlawful taking or theft of a motor vehicle, and vehicle interference (such as breaking into or vandalising a vehicle).

The data shows that all 10 local authorities with the highest vehicle crime rates are boroughs of London, which may be due to urban density, high traffic, and population size – factors that increase opportunities for vehicle crime.

• Haringey has the highest vehicle crime rate, with 12.6 offences per million vehicle miles. In 2023-24, 4,008 vehicle offences were recorded.
• Camden follows closely with a vehicle crime rate of 11.3 offences per million vehicle miles. 3,079 vehicle offences were recorded between the years 2023-24.
• Islington is in third, with 10.0 offences per million vehicle miles. For the year 2023-24, 2,251 vehicle offences were recorded in the area.

In contrast, rural areas in Wales, such as Ceredigion, experience fewer vehicle crimes – only 0.09 per million vehicle miles. This could be due to lower population density, less traffic, and reduced anonymity, making opportunistic offences less likely.

Claire Wills-Mckissick comments:

“Both drivers and local authorities have an important role to play in reducing vehicle crime. Drivers can minimise the risk of theft by parking in secure locations, using anti-theft devices, and staying vigilant. If the unexpected happens and your car is stolen, temporary car insurance is one option that can help by allowing you to borrow a car from friends or family, easing the pressure during what is likely to be a stressful time.

“Local authorities can make a difference by increasing police presence, improving CCTV surveillance, and raising public awareness. Together, these efforts can help reduce vehicle crime.”

Methodology

We used ONS data to calculate the number of vehicle crimes in the year ending March 2024 in each local authority in England per million vehicles using road traffic statistics from the Department for Transport (local authority traffic). The following local authorities have merged, so were combined in the road traffic data to match the crime data:

• Local authority: Westmorland and Furness (combined authorities: South Lakeland, Barrow, Eden)
• Local authority: Cumberland (combined authorities: Carlisle, Allerdale, Copeland)
• Local authority: East Sussex (combined authorities: Hastings, Rother, Wealden, Lewes, Eastbourne)
• Local authority: West Sussex (combined authorities: Chichester, Crawley, Arun, Horsham, Mid Sussex, Worthing)
• Local authority: West Northamptonshire (combined authorities: Northampton, South Northamptonshire, Daventry)
• Local authority: North Northamptonshire (combined authorities: Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering, Wellingborough)
• Local authority: Worcestershire (combined authorities: Worcester, Malvern Hills, Bromsgrove, Wyre Forest, Redditch, Wychavon)
• Local authority: Devon (combined authorities: Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge, West Devon)
• Local authority: Oxfordshire (combined authorities: Oxford City, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire)

Data was also collected for the number of vehicle crimes in each local authority in March 2023, March 2022, and March 2021 in order to draw year-on-year comparisons.

The number of obstruction, waiting, and parking offences handed out by each police force in England and Wales in 2023 was collected using official government data, calculated per 100,000 people using ONS population figures.

Finally, data was also collected for the number of offences handed out by each police force in England and Wales in 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 in order to draw year-on-year comparisons. These were normalised using ONS population figures for each year.