A number of articles and letters have appeared in The Argus over the past two weeks on the question of wheel clamping.

When are those involved going to wake up to the fact that wheel clamping is illegal under the laws and constitution of Great Britain.

Arbitrary fines were made illegal some 600 years ago by the Magna Carta, which guaranteed the right of trial before any fine or other punishment could be imposed.

This has been ratified several times since, in such acts as the 1689 Bill of Rights, the 1701 Act of Settlement, and Article 6 of the 1998 Human Rights Act.

No one can be subjected to a fine unless found guilty in a court of law.

Putting up notices stating an intention to clamp illegally parked vehicles does not make the act lawful. Under civil law, as opposed to criminal law, you cannot have your goods seized for non-payment of a debt unless the debt has been proved in the civil court and a warrant issued.

Neither do any of the clamping firms have any defence by claiming to be licensed. No one can be licensed to break either the criminal or civil law.

Anyone who has been clamped is quite entitled to sue for damages in the civil courts.

  • Stuart Bower, Towers Road Upper Beeding