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Beyond the Uniform wins national Employer Initiative award following continued success.

The North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) has been recognised as part of a national award-winning project delivered in A campaign designed to support the wellbeing of Civil Enforcement Officers and challenge abuse towards frontline staff has won a national award. 

The Beyond the Uniform campaign, delivered by the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP), was named winner of the Employer Initiative category at the Department for Transport Special Recognition Awards 2026. 

Addressing abuse towards frontline staff 

The award is the latest in a series of national recognitions for the campaign, which was developed in response to feedback from Civil Enforcement Officers about the abuse and intimidation they can face while carrying out their duties. The initiative set out to challenge misconceptions about parking enforcement, highlight the people beyond the uniform and encourage more respectful interactions between residents and frontline staff. 

Developed with funding from PATROL’s Driving Improvement Awards programme, Beyond the Uniform was created by Colchester City Council on behalf of NEPP and delivered in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council. The campaign invited officers to share their personal stories, helping communities better understand the challenges and responsibilities of the role. 

National rollout and industry recognition 

Since its launch, Beyond the Uniform has reached hundreds of thousands of people through community engagement, media coverage and digital activity. Following the success of its pilot, the campaign has been rolled out nationally and has received widespread recognition, including winning the Special Jury Award at the British Parking Awards 2025, and being shortlisted for both the LGC Awards 2026 and the MJ Achievement Awards 2026. 

The campaign has also delivered measurable results, including a significant reduction in incidents of abuse reported by Civil Enforcement Officers. 

Councillor Nicky Purse, Chair of the North Essex Parking Partnership Joint Committee, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Beyond the Uniform has won the Employer Initiative award at the Department for Transport Special Recognition Awards. 

“This campaign was created to support our officers; raise awareness of the vital work they do and encourage greater understanding of the challenges they can face while serving our communities. 

“What makes this achievement particularly special is that the campaign has been driven by the experiences and voices of our officers themselves. Their willingness to share their stories has helped communities see the person behind the uniform and understand the impact that abuse can have. 

“To receive national recognition for this work is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved, but most importantly it reinforces the message that nobody should face abuse simply for doing their job.” 

A model for the sector 

The campaign has attracted attention from councils and parking partnerships across the country, with organisations adopting the approach to help tackle abuse and improve understanding of the Civil Enforcement Officer role. 

This latest award further strengthens Beyond the Uniform’s position as a leading example of how local authorities can support employee wellbeing while building positive relationships with the communities they serve.

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. 

A pioneering communications and engagement campaign that shines a light on the people behind parking uniforms has been shortlisted for its second major national award. 

Beyond the Uniform, created by Colchester City Council on behalf of the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) and delivered in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council, has been named a finalist in the 2026 MJ Achievement Awards in the new Communications category. This follows its recent shortlisting for Campaign of the Year at the LGC Awards 2026. The project, which received funding through Patrol’s Driving Improvement award, has now been rolled out nationally. 

A response to a growing national issue 

Beyond the Uniform was developed as a direct response to increasing levels of verbal and physical abuse experienced by Civil Enforcement Officers. Many officers shared the lasting impact these incidents had on their wellbeing at work and at home. To help change this, the campaign used documentary-style film, community engagement events and public advertising to encourage people to understand the human stories behind the role. 

By sharing the real experiences of officers, including their roles as carers, volunteers and first responders in emergencies, the project helped challenge misconceptions and encouraged a more human and empathetic understanding of their work. 

Clear and meaningful impact 

The results were significant. NEPP reported a 73 per cent reduction in abuse during the campaign period, while Brighton and Hove recorded a 23 per cent reduction over the same timeframe. Officers in both areas said they felt more supported and valued, and many residents reported a shift in their understanding of the role. These outcomes helped support the decision to roll the initiative out on a national scale. 

A partnership achieving real change 

The success of Beyond the Uniform reflects the strength of partnership working and a shared commitment to improving officer safety and community understanding. 

Cllr Paul Honeywood, Chair of the North Essex Parking Partnership, said: 
“This campaign has helped people see the real individuals behind the uniform and has opened up conversations that had not been happening before. It has made a meaningful difference to the safety and confidence of our officers. Being shortlisted for a second national award is a credit to everyone involved and to the communities who engaged with the campaign so positively.” 

Looking ahead 

With national rollout now underway, both councils remain focused on building on the progress already made. NEPP is expanding the approach into additional districts, while Brighton and Hove continue to embed officer wellbeing and public engagement into its day-to-day service. 

The winners of the LGC Awards will be announced on 10 June 2026, with the winners of the MJ Achievement Awards announced on 19 June 2026. 

The North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) is preparing to formally advertise proposed changes to on-street parking arrangements in Braintree, Halstead and Witham. These proposals aim to modernise parking management, encourage sustainable travel, and improve community safety – while continuing to support local businesses and visitors.

Under the proposed scheme, motorists would still benefit from one hour of free parking, with the option to extend their stay for a modest fee, aligned with nearby public car park tariffs. This approach is intended to support short, purposeful visits and increase turnover of parking spaces, helping to boost footfall and strengthen the appeal and activity of town centres.

This shift would deliver significant public benefits, by freeing up officer time for enforcement of high-priority restrictions, such as school zones and red lines, where road safety and responsible parking are especially important. More focused enforcement could also help to promote turnover, improving access to parking and supporting local businesses – representing a more efficient use of public resources.

The suggested improvements to parking restrictions would also bring operational efficiencies. By replacing limited waiting restrictions with Pay and Display, Civil Enforcement Officers can carry out quicker and more effective vehicle checks, enabling them to focus on higher-priority areas. NEPP estimates that enforcement patrol time could be reduced by up to 50%. In areas where similar changes have already been introduced, NEPP has observed a 144% increase in the efficiency of identifying vehicles parked illegally.

If approved, visitors would be able to register their stay using the MiPermit service via app, text or phone, offering convenience and flexibility. Two of the proposed sites would also include parking machines with card payment options. Blue Badge holders would continue to benefit from free parking, provided their badges are clearly displayed. Pay and display operational hours will directly mirror the operational hours of limited waiting bays currently in place. For most sites this is 8am-6pm Monday-Saturday, with the exception of one bay on Halstead High Street, which is 8am-6pm Monday-Thursday and Saturday.

Councillor Paul Honeywood, Chair of the North Essex Parking Partnership, said: “These proposals are about making our town centres more accessible, safer, and better supported. By encouraging short, purposeful visits and freeing up officer time to focus on areas like school zones, we’re aiming to create a more balanced and responsive parking system. Importantly, visitors would still benefit from a free hour’s parking, with the flexibility to stay longer if needed.”

The NEPP will formally advertise the Notice of Intention through on-street notices, local newspapers, and by letter-dropping businesses in the affected area, towards the end of October. The proposals will then be subject to a three-week consultation period, during which members of the public are invited to submit any comments or feedback. Following the close of the consultation, a report will be prepared that considers all support and objections received. This report will be presented to the NEPP joint committee for a decision on how to proceed. 

These proposals reflect NEPP’s commitment to delivering a more efficient, accessible, and community-focused parking experience. Any surplus revenue generated – should the changes go ahead – would be reinvested into local traffic management improvements, including the maintenance of road markings, signage, and street furniture, helping to create a safer and more welcoming environment for all.

Full details will be available on the NEPP website from 23 October, visit https://north.parkingpartnership.org/paid-parking/.

TThe North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) is thrilled to announce its success at the British Parking Awards 2025, where it took home two prestigious accolades, recognising both individual excellence and innovative collaboration.

Tanya McGrath, Enforcement Specialist, was awarded The Front Line Award, celebrating her outstanding dedication, professionalism, and compassionate approach to enforcement. Tanya’s work has consistently exemplified NEPP’s values, and her recognition is a testament to the vital role Civil Enforcement Officers play in keeping communities safe and accessible.

In addition, NEPP’s Beyond the Uniform campaign was honoured with the Special Jury Award, a category reserved for entries that have made an exceptional impact across all areas of the competition. Developed in partnership with Brighton & Hove City Council and funded by PATROL, the campaign challenged public perceptions of parking enforcement and highlighted the human stories behind the uniform. Since its launch in Harlow in January 2025, the campaign has led to a 73% reduction in reported incidents of violence and aggression towards officers in that area.

Image: Richard Walker, Colchester City Council Head of Strategic Parking and Recycling and Refuse, Jake England, Interim Head of NEPP, and representatives from Brighton and Hove Council and NSL.

Following the success of the pilot in Harlow, Beyond the Uniform is now being rolled out nationwide, with other local authorities adopting the campaign to improve public understanding and support for their enforcement teams.

Cllr Paul Honeywood, Chair of NEPP, said: “We are absolutely delighted with these wins. Tanya’s award is richly deserved, and the Special Jury Award for Beyond the Uniform is a powerful endorsement of the campaign’s impact. These honours reflect the creativity, compassion and commitment of our team and partners. We’re proud to be leading the way in changing perceptions and improving safety for our officers.”

The British Parking Awards shine a spotlight on excellence and innovation across the UK’s parking sector. This year’s event was the most competitive yet, with a record number of entries. NEPP’s success is a great example of what can be achieved through strong collaboration and a commitment to putting people at the centre of public service.

For more information on NEPP and the Beyond the Uniform campaign, visit: Beyond the Uniform – North Essex Parking Partnership.