Hi-tech cameras in school cars blitz

Hi-tech cameras could be used to spy on parents parking illegally when dropping off their children outside school gates in the Black Country.

A Smart car equipped with a digital video camera would record motorists stopping on zig-zags or no-parking zones near schools.

The footage would then be used to prosecute drivers.

Sandwell is set to be the first to use the Big Brother-style technology and then it could be shared with other Black Country authorities in Wolverhampton, Walsall and Dudley.

Sandwell neighbourhoods chief Councillor Mahboob Hussain insisted the camera car would not be about catching parents out, but would send out the message that illegal parking was being taken seriously.

"It is not about issuing tickets but saying to parents there may be someone watching you," he said.

"If it means saving one injury then it is worth spending the money."

Sandwell Council has also announced plans to slash speed limits to 20mph in more areas outside schools and in town centres throughout the borough as part of a clamp down on dangerous driving and parking.

Some £500,000 is to be spent on traffic calming.

Councillor Bill Archer, Conservative councillor for Wednesbury North described the camera plans as "heavy handed".

He said: "We don't need to stake out schools using spy cameras to catch out on parents. We all know there are problems with parking outside schools, but I don't see why we couldn't have the community wardens outside to act as a deterrent."