Man ‘cut down metal poles’ to set up illegal match day car park

Liverpool Council and Merseyside Police have urged football fans to avoid fraudulent parking schemes

Hayfield Street, Anfield, where an illegal car park operated on match days(Image: GOOGLE STREETVIEW)

A man has cut through steel posts to pay drivers to park outside Liverpool FC’s famous stadium on match days.

To try and make a quick profit from supporters traveling to Enfieldpeople resort to illegal means to host illegitimate parking schemes. Merseyside Police in conjunction with Liverpool Council have announced a crackdown on attempts to fraudulently collect tolls from motorists amid increasing reports of threats and intimidation in the north of the city.

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Police said many of these incidents involved damaging fences or gates to gain access to city or private properties before charging people to park on the ground. Vehicles then pile up in tight spaces and often spill into the street, making it impossible for emergency vehicles to pass through.

In one such incident, a man managed to cut through steel posts to gain access to a patch of grass on Hayfield Street before demanding drivers park on the ground. The stadium already has several legal parking areas, including a large lot in Stanley Park in the shadow of Anfield.

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Two vehicles were impounded for causing obstruction and an investigation is underway to find the person who caused the damage and then fraudulently charged people to park in the area. Police said the illegal schemes were causing significant disruption to residents as it affected their ability to access or park outside their own homes.

There has also been an increase in reports of individuals using threats and intimidation when operating fraudulent car parks if they have ever been challenged by council officers or local residents. Last month, Liverpool Council announced how to do this parking staff will be equipped with new body cameras to suppress workplace violence.

Where parking is not possible, fans heading to the match are encouraged to use public transport or find legal pay and display spaces further afield. Chris Taylor, District Inspector of Police for Liverpool North, said: “The people responsible for breaking into these sites are extremely irresponsible and clearly do not care about the people who live in the area.

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“They often damage facilities by breaking down gates or fences before packing vehicles into small areas. Not only does this create disruption for people living in the area, but it also affects the ability of emergency vehicles to access certain roads.

“We are determined to reduce the number of incidents like this and continue to work with partners including Liverpool Council. Officers will be patrolling the grounds of Anfield on match days and joint operations are underway with the council to identify specific areas that have been used in the past.

“If you are aware of a space being used illegally for parking please call 101 or DM @MerPolCC on social media and let us know so we can take action.”

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Cllr Dan Barrington, Liverpool Council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “Illegal parking causes problems for local residents, other motorists and emergency vehicles. We are stepping up our efforts to tackle the problem by hiring more police officers and we will not hesitate to fine vehicles that are causing the problem.

“Our message to people traveling to the match is to plan carefully, use public transport where possible and, if you are driving, park legally.”