Driver of Bexley Council's CCTV car accused of sleeping on the job

Ben Hanachi, 44, says he took pictures of the employee napping in the vehicle on January 23 at around 9.30am in Yarnton Way, Thamesmead.

He told News Shopper: "She was well asleep with headphones on. I took some pictures then knocked on the window and showed her the camera. She opened her eyes and drove off."

The tree surgeon added: "If you pay someone to do a job, why should they fall asleep on a main road? It's a stupid place to choose to have a kip."

Mobile In-car Camera Enforcement vehicles (MICE) use CCTV to catch people parking illegally across the borough.

A penalty charge notice is then sent to the owner of the vehicle by post.

Mr Hanachi, of Templar Drive, Thamesmead, says he was fined £120 by the council last year when he stopped on double yellow lines to let someone cross the road.

He appealed the decision and the fine was quashed.

Mr Hanachi said: "Since the fine I decided to carry a camera with me so every time I see them (CCTV cars) doing something wrong I take a picture."

Si Clark, a member of No To Mob, which campaigns against council CCTV cars, said: "It's a waste of money for the council to have camera cars.

"It's more efficient to have on-street enforcement. This has just proven it's a complete waste of money."

A council spokeswoman said: "The photos are inconclusive on their own.

"NSL, the Civil Parking Enforcement contractor for the London Borough of Bexley, is currently looking into the matter and will wait until all facts are known before deciding whether any action needs to be taken.”

Motorist angered by parking fine 'con'

A WIDOW was left "shaky and stressed" after receiving a £60 parking fine despite claiming the pay machines were out of order.

On Monday (January 30) at around 9.45am Linda Hill parked her car in Oaklands Road car park in Bexleyheath.

The 61-year-old went to put money in the machine but there was an 'out of order' hood over it.

Mrs Hill, of Erith Road, Bexleyheath, said: "I put a note on the car saying the machines were out of order with £1.40 on the dash board.

“I also explained in the note I didn't have a phone with me."

But when she returned from a beauty salon at 10.30am the covers had been taken off the machines and she had received a parking ticket.

The mother-of-one said: "To me it seems like a con.

"I'm just shaky and stressed out because it's a lot of money to me."

A council spokeswoman said she could not comment on individual cases and added: "The process enabling motorists to challenge the issue of a penalty charge is shown on its reverse, and the council will consider all such challenges objectively."