Privacy notice – Parking Penalty Charge Notices, Permits and Suspensions

What we do

The Parking Services works in partnership with the Parking Enforcement Contractor and is responsible for civil parking and moving traffic enforcement in the borough, issuing parking permits and carrying out parking suspensions.

What information we collect

Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)

The information we collect from you may include: 

• vehicle registration mark (VRM)

We will record your vehicle registration mark when we believe a contravention has occurred, either by a civil enforcement officer recording it while on patrol or by ANPR CCTV to enforce moving traffic or bus lane offences.

• name and address

We request details of the registered keeper of the vehicle at the time the alleged contravention takes place. We get the details from the DVLA or the person/company we believe to be the owner of the vehicle in order to pursue a penalty charge notice.

However if the vehicle is hired or leased then we request a copy of the hire/lease agreement from the registered keeper of the vehicle so that we can transfer liability to the hirer at the time the contravention took place.

If the registered keeper has sold the vehicle, then we can obtain details of the new keeper from the registered keeper at the time of contravention. At the debt registration stage our enforcement agents check their records to see if a more up-to-date address exists, which can lead to a records update. Finally, keeper details may be determined from an appellant's correspondence details where they have said that they are the vehicle keeper.

If you choose to dispute a PCN we will record your:

To allow us to investigate your dispute in full, we may also request further information such as: 

• medical evidence

• financial information including bank statement, copy of cheque

• cashless payment details

• blue badge details

• vehicle breakdown reports

• crime reference numbers/incidents numbers

When we respond to parking disputes, we will also refer to personal information from other sources, including, but not limited to, our parking permits system and PayByPhone.

Parking Permits 

We collect your: 

• name

• address

• date of birth

• telephone number

• email address

• vehicle details

• blue badge details

We use your name, address and vehicle registration to confirm that you are entitled to the permit you have applied for.  

We use your blue badge number and expiry date to make sure that you are eligible to apply for a permit that is only available to blue badge holders as specified in the parking policy.

We use your telephone number and email address to contact you to remind you when your permit is due to expire.

In order to make the process of obtaining a permit as simple and easy as possible, we will try to confirm that you live at the address stated in your application automatically. To do this we will check the details you supply against the verification database. If we are able to automatically confirm your residency, and no other proofs are required, your application will be automatically approved.

If we have no record of you, we will request your:

• tenancy agreement

• solicitor letter regarding the purchase of property

• vehicle registration document (V5c log book)

• utility bills

• vehicle lease agreement

Parking suspensions and dispensations

We collect your:

• name

• address

• telephone number

• email address

• vehicle registration mark of vehicle using suspension / dispensation. 

We use your details to contact you to tell you about the cost for administrating and implementing the suspension.

Agencies we might share the information with

We may share the information you give us with: 

• law enforcement agencies (in connection with any investigation to help prevent unlawful activity)

• environmental and traffic adjudicators at London tribunals. We create and send appeals packs  to Enforcement Traffic Appeals (ETA) and appellant where an appeal has been logged

• Northgate public services to administer appeals

• the traffic enforcement centre at Northampton county court. We register any outstanding debt in line with legislation and enforce on such debts via enforcement agents. The traffic enforcement centre at Northampton county court. We register any outstanding debt in line with legislation and enforce on such debts via enforcement agents.

• DVLA. We use your VRM to request details of the registered keeper of the vehicle from the DVLA in order to pursue a penalty charge notice.

• companies that provide systems and services to us. We share information with third parties who process or print PCNs, statutory documents and visitor’s permits.

• virtual permits and cashless system provider

• local and county courts if a claim or court appeal is made.

• insurance companies

• other local authorities

We will share the information internally to improve parking services performance and delivery and will share it where necessary to allow a third party working for or on behalf of the council.

We will not disclose any information to any persons or businesses outside of London Borough of Lewisham except to prevent fraud, or if required to do so by law.

Why we process your information 

We process your information to:

• issue and recover outstanding penalty charge notices

The penalty charge notices are issued under the:

• Traffic Management Act 2004 (Parking Contraventions)

• London Local Authorities Act 1996 (Bus Lane Contraventions)

• Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (Bus Lane Contraventions)

• London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003 (Moving Traffic Contraventions)

We also process your information to:

• issue and administer parking permits

Parking Services issue parking permits for the residents or businesses living or working within one of the controlled parking zones within the London Borough of Lewisham. We may ask you to give us your details and produce documents to verify your eligibility when making your application. This information is provided consensually so this is not mandated by legislation.

We also process your information to:

• suspend a parking place or issue parking dispensation

Parking Services administer parking suspensions and dispensations on request to allow for building and utility works, domestic and business removals or to facilitate loading requests. We may ask you to provide your details to be able to contact you to tell you about the cost for administration and implementation of the suspension.

We are legally permitted to collect and handle information about you because certain laws say that we must do it and processing it is necessary for compliance with legal obligations. We may collect and share information about you without your permission. The main rules for collecting and processing your personal information are contained in:

• The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
• The London Local Authorities Act 1996
• The Traffic Management Act 2004
• The London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003
• The Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2022.

We also collect and handle information about you to allow us to deliver, manage and improve services we provide to you.