Brighton & Hove City Council and North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) have been announced as joint winners in the first year of PATROL’s new Driving Improvement Awards.

PATROL launched the new awards programme this year to inspire and recognise local authority public awareness activities that drive positive change in the delivery of enforcement services and engagement with communities.

Awards tackle key issues in enforcement landscape 

The Driving Improvement Awards offer authorities the chance to submit a bid for funding to carry out a campaign or activity to effect change, both in the local area and replicable nationally. Bids are encouraged around a specific theme each year, based on current or pressing events, issues and trends in the parking and traffic enforcement landscape. This year focuses on abuse experienced by civil enforcement officers and other enforcement staff.

Two councils to take forward joint campaign

Both Brighton and NEPP proposed creative and thought-provoking campaign concepts to educate the public on the true nature of enforcement and the staff involved, in order to dispel common myths that may lie behind abuse, as well as to foster respect and empathy.

It was also the combination of Brighton’s multi-stakeholder approach with NEPP’s proposal to develop a suite of interactive resources that PATROL felt would deliver a further compelling edge, also making any eventual campaign materials adaptable for use by other authorities.

The winning authorities were announced at PATROL’s Annual Reception held in London on 9 July.