FoI Request Submitted to BPA

Coupon-mad

In a year's time, when audits are (I believe) going to become part of the remit of the new Conformity Assessment Bodies set up as part of the regulation of this rogue industry, I wonder if the CABs themselves might have to be subject to FOI?

I don't know.  Just musing.  We might be able to see the audits.

The CABs will be separate from the BPA and IPC in future; that's the scheme being created under the new incoming statutory CoP.

If the CABs themselves are not within FOI rules, we'd all have to bombard the DLUHC for any audits and all complaints seen by the new Scrutiny Board.

Secondly, whilst it all starts to transition, there may be value in contacting the ICO to lobby for the new parking CABs to be deemed subject to FOI because I think the ICO can decide on new groups to fall under that set of consumer rights, as set out in the DRA 2018.

It seems to me, that bodies set up to independently audit and check conformity of a known rogue industry should fall within FOI rules from the get-go.

Wilbureeny

Just out of interest, does anyone know if this has changed and the BPA are now subject to FOI requests? I'm struggling to information of an audit ever having been done from a very dodgy parking company

Coupon-mad

No they aren't.

But the DVLA are subject to the FOI Act and you can ask for all GIAA Audits they carried out re this firm.

ParkingMad

Here are the GIAA audit results for private parking companies for 2023-2024. Scroll to the bottom for links to previous years’ results.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/giaa_audit_results_of_private_pa_3#comment-122342

Half_way

The British Parking Association is a private members trade association and not a regulatory authority ( by any stretch of the imagination)

As a private members' organisation, they are not subject to any FOI requests.

As for regualtions the BPA say this:

 We are a membership association and not a regulatory body. This means that whilst we will address any concerns raised about our members’ working practices, we do not have the resource to deal with complaints about individual enforcement notices.

Trade associations exist to look after and protect their members.

Parking companies want to make as much money as possible from issuing as many "parking charge notices" as possible and hoping that the general public are daft enough to think these are fines and pay up.

 You could say the code of practice is there to protect its members from each other's excess - if a pakring company issues tickets left right and centre for anything and everything, then the whole money making scheme will be put at risk and in turn face real public scrutiny

Shevchenko01

Wilbureeny said:

Just out of interest, does anyone know if this has changed and the BPA are now subject to FOI requests? I'm struggling to information of an audit ever having been done from a very dodgy parking company

FYI, I have just sent a FOI request to the DoT asking if they are subject to FOI request and, if not, why not as they are carrying out an activity authorised by statute, being s 7 of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, and does a person wanting to obtain information about appal rates (success v unsuccessful) split by company obtain this via the Department for Transport instead?

I'll update 

James_Poisson

Shevchenko01 said:

Wilbureeny said:

Just out of interest, does anyone know if this has changed and the BPA are now subject to FOI requests? I'm struggling to information of an audit ever having been done from a very dodgy parking company

FYI, I have just sent a FOI request to the DoT asking if they are subject to FOI request and, if not, why not as they are carrying out an activity authorised by statute, being s 7 of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, and does a person wanting to obtain information about appal rates (success v unsuccessful) split by company obtain this via the Department for Transport instead?

I'll update 

I think you are misinformed, that will get nowhere.

I'm sure @Coupon-mad who has been at the forefront of the consultation with the government on this will be along shortly to put you right on the actual current position.

The BPA published some statistics in 2025 but you won't get a by PPC breakdown:

Approved Operation Scheme 2024 census

11,633,106 PCNs were issued by our members in 2024, up from 10,187,395 in 2023. 91% of those issued in 2024 were issued via ANPR. 

• 45% of issued PCNs are paid
• 83% of paid PCNs are settled at the discounted rate
• 20% appealed to the operator
  • 52% of appeals to the operator were successful
  • 0.67% were taken to appeal at POPLA

ANPR tickets issued

99.7% of parking events at our members’ ANPR car parks do not result in a parking ticket

Coupon-mad

Shevchenko01 said:

Wilbureeny said:

Just out of interest, does anyone know if this has changed and the BPA are now subject to FOI requests? I'm struggling to information of an audit ever having been done from a very dodgy parking company

FYI, I have just sent a FOI request to the DoT asking if they are subject to FOI request and, if not, why not as they are carrying out an activity authorised by statute, being s 7 of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, and does a person wanting to obtain information about appal rates (success v unsuccessful) split by company obtain this via the Department for Transport instead?

I'll update 

The BPA are not subject to FOI but you have given me food for thought to ask the MHCLG about something related to this. Thanks!

Shevchenko01

Whilst your information (in the lower half) was useful, and I thank you for this, your opening was patronising, unhelpful and somewhat condescending, for which there was no need.

I think you are misinformed

No, you are wrong.  Asking a question is the source of becoming informed. Not asking results in being uninformed or misinformed.

I'm sure @Coupon-mad who has been at the forefront of the consultation with the government on this will be along shortly to put you right on the actual current position.

Thank you for your help, but please, don't be so aggressive, it doesn't make people want to use this forum.  Hint: you could have simply said, 'Coupon_Mad has been investigating this for a while, etc, etc...' without the condescending or patronising tone.

Cheers.