Award recognises pioneering work to tackle persistent parking evasion
The North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) has been recognised as part of a national award-winning project delivered in partnership with the National Persistent Evader Database (NPED), South Essex Parking Partnership (SEPP) and parking technology provider Unity5.
The project, which is helping local authorities tackle persistent parking evasion through innovative technology and intelligence-led enforcement, received the Parking in Action Award at the 2026 British Parking Awards.
The NEPP was among the first parking partnerships in the country to pilot and use the system in a live operational environment, helping demonstrate the benefits it can deliver for both enforcement teams and local communities.
Working together to tackle persistent parking evasion
The award recognised a collaborative approach that brings together local authority parking services, intelligence-led technology and data analysis to identify and address persistent parking evaders more effectively.
The system helps parking teams identify vehicles linked to repeat parking contraventions, enabling officers to focus resources on the most challenging cases and take a more targeted approach to enforcement.
By combining intelligence, technology and partnership working, the project improves efficiency, supports fair and proportionate enforcement, and helps make better use of public resources.
Councillor Nicky Purse, Chair of the North Essex Parking Partnership Joint Committee, said: “This national award is fantastic recognition for the innovative work being carried out through the North Essex Parking Partnership and alongside our partners.
“By working with SEPP, NPED and Unity5, we have helped develop and pilot a new approach to tackling persistent parking evasion that allows our resources to be focused where they can have the greatest impact.
“We’re proud to have played a leading role in demonstrating the benefits this approach can deliver for local authorities, while helping ensure parking enforcement remains fair, effective and proportionate.”
Delivering benefits for communities
Persistent parking evaders can consume a disproportionate amount of enforcement resource while often avoiding payment of outstanding penalties.
The award-winning initiative helps officers identify repeat offenders more effectively, improving compliance and reducing unnecessary administration. The result is a more efficient service that can focus on keeping roads safe, accessible and available for everyone who uses them.
The award highlights how collaboration and innovation can help modernise parking services, and the NEPP will continue to explore opportunities to use technology and intelligence-led approaches to improve services for residents across north Essex.
