Peterborough: 'Double Standards' Claim Over CCTV Car

3 January 2014, 14:01 | Updated: 3 January 2014, 14:04

An investigation has begun after a Peterborough City Council car, which takes pictures of vehicles breaking traffic laws, was spotted parked on double yellow lines.

The CCTV Smart car was snapped in the centre of Peterborough, where it uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera to take photos of cars breaking the law. 

However Peterborough City Council has been accused of double standards after claiming the driver is allowed to stop on double yellows while carrying out enforcement action. 

Nick Pickles, director of Big Brother Watch, said: "People will rightly think it is one rule for CCTV cars and one rule for the rest of us."

A spokesman for Peterborough City Council said: "The law allows CCTV vehicles to stop on single and double yellow lines in order to carry out their enforcement duties. 

Wherever possible, the CCTV vehicle parks legally and only stops in restricted areas in exceptional circumstances. 

In this case, the vehicle appears to be in a loading bay. We are investigating and will speak to the driver."