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Watch the extraordinary
footage.

EXCLUSIVE

by Sam Lennon

A policeman with bolt croppers is battling to try and free an
unmarked police car after it was clamped by zealous parking
enforcers.

This film, which was posted on
YouTube, shows the officer’s vain bid to release the clamp after a
colleague’s car was immobilised.

The unmarked police car was parked
at Eureka Place while an officer was investigating a crime in
Ashford.

But it was left outside a
designated bay, despite warning signs.

In the end it had to be transported
back to Ashford Police Station, with the clampers called to free it
and Kent Police paying a £200 charge.

The extraordinary scene, filmed and
placed on YouTube, has provoked a row over clamping at the new
retail parade.

Martin Harries, manager of the
clamping company Parking Control Services, said: "We cannot clamp
marked police cars but this was an unmarked one.

"Why should the police be different
to anybody else?"

The extraordinary saga began on the
afternoon of Wednesday, July 15 when a scenes-of-crimes officer in
a unmarked police silver Peugeot 206 arrived at Eureka Place,
Trinity Road, to follow up an investigation.

The plain clothes woman officer
left the car near the Pheasant pub, but it was outside the marked
bays despite signs forbidding this and warning of 24-hour clamping
and £200 charges.

PCS workers immobilised the car and
when this was discovered uniformed officers were called in to
help.

The company says officers phoned
them and told them to immediately free the car.

When PCS refused, a uniformed
policeman set about trying to open the clamp with a pair of bolt
croppers.

PCS says this scene was filmed by a
member of the public. It was then posted on video sharing
website YouTube.

The police say they are taking
action against PCS.

Chief Inspector John Frayne said in
a statement: "The company refused to remove the clamp and
subsequently the vehicle was recovered to Ashford police station.
The clamping company have since removed the clamp and the matter is
subject to legal proceedings."