Parking inspectors are being forced to work in pairs for their own safety after enduring physical threats in Griffith’s main street.
PARKING inspectors are being forced to work in pairs for their own safety after enduring physical threats in Griffith's main street.
The officers have been spat at, verbally abused and threatened since they began a crackdown on illegal parking in the CBD late last year.
The backlash became so bad council executive services manager Shireen Donaldson took to the streets herself to see what could be done.
"I went out there because I was concerned about my staff being abused," she said.
"I saw a little bit of the angst while I was out there but I didn't cop it as badly as my officers have been.
"You'd hear people say some pretty awful things about you but you can develop a pretty thick skin against that. It's when you start getting physical threats and being spat at that it has really become too much."
Mrs Donaldson said her staff were doing the right thing by not issuing fines if there was any uncertainty and ensuring vehicles were well over their time limit before pulling out the ticket book.
"There's no need for this sort of abuse the rules are clear and there is a fair degree of leniency involved," she said.
"We understand it's not a pleasant thing to get fined but people have to appreciate there's a parking limit."
Parking compliance had lapsed in the 12 months before the crackdown began, with officers deployed to other tasks.
But Mrs Donaldson said those days were gone.
"Our inspectors will be out on a regular basis and they will be working in pairs," she said.
"While pairing staff up is not ideal for productivity, the job has become too hazardous for them to go out on their own.
"I hope the people of Griffith will recognise the officers are just doing their job and if they do the right thing there will be no need for this sort of behaviour."