British tourists preparing for their summer getaways have been warned not to use cheaper unofficial parking firms at a major UK airport after police uncovered a pattern of criminal damage to vehicles by rogue traders. While it could be tempting to save a few pounds by leaving your car with a company unaffiliated with Bristol Airport, those who do so are taking a serious risk, according to a new investigation by Avon and Somerset Police. Unofficial parking companies operating near the North Somerset transport hub were found to have incurred criminal damage to vehicles left in their care, as well as racking up additional mileage and lending them to suspected uninsured drivers.
The last thing travellers want upon finally arriving back home is to deal with a headache about the state or location of their car – but some Brits have had to do just that, the force’s Immigration Enforcement Team revealed this month. Some vehicles were handed back to their owners in an undriveable or unroadworthy condition, while others were left in “dangerous or obstructive” positions in nearby villages.
Families with young children were left waiting for hours to be reunited with their vehicles after unofficial operators failed to give them back, according to the force, with officers finding and returning 20 cars abandoned near the airport during just one day of action.
The force said enquiries into suspected immigration and licensing links with the unofficial companies were still underway.
“We are now in the summer months and therefore a busy holiday season for both travellers and Bristol Airport alike,” Sergeant Danielle Hardaway, an officer who supported the investigation, said.
“We ask people to always choose reputable parking operators, and to choose them carefully. If the price seems too good to be true, then it often is.”
Dave Lees, chief executive at Bristol Airport, added: “We welcome this latest operation and will continue to work with colleagues at Avon and Somerset Police and North Somerset Council to tackle these rogue operators.
“They are a nuisance to local communities and cause distress to customers who use them – with many completely unaware of where their cars end up.”
Officials have urged travellers to look for the British Parking Association’s police-backed Park Mark Safer Parking accreditation to ensure their cars stay safe during their absence.
Police also discovered that three unlicensed taxis were operating in the area, which are now subject to a separate investigation in collaboration with licensing authorities.