Police initiate a crackdown on unauthorized airport parking lots

Authorities have conducted a targeted operation against unauthorized airport parking providers following reports of vehicle damage and unexplained mileage. The initiative, focused on North Somerset, involved Bristol Airport police officers inspecting rogue parking facilities.

Avon and Somerset Police revealed that officers visited three parking locations and discovered no staff on site. Vehicles were left unsecured, and a caravan was being used as an office, containing what appeared to be customers' car keys.

Several travelers recounted being abandoned at the airport, receiving conflicting instructions from the parking operators. In one case, a family was told to take a taxi to a farm, wait for an hour, and then move to a second farm before finally retrieving their vehicle. Another family, including two young children, was stranded until airport staff arranged hotel accommodation for them.

The enforcement action was conducted by the airport police unit in cooperation with immigration authorities, North Somerset Council, and the British Parking Association.

North Somerset Councillor Annemieke Waite warned that "when deals seem too good to be true, they usually are." She added that none of the off-site operators held proper planning permission or had been evaluated under planning regulations. Residents experiencing issues with parking providers are urged to contact the police or North Somerset Council.

Sergeant Danielle Hardaway of Avon and Somerset Police stated that the public would be shocked by the conditions in which vehicles were stored and handled. Authorities recommend that travelers book parking through the airports official channels or use accredited parking companies.

Author: Gavin Porter