Man warned after parking altercation

A policewoman speaks to a Dunedin parking warden who was allegedly assaulted during a dispute in George St over a parking infringement notice. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

A 30-year-old man has been given a pre-charge warning from police after he allegedly assaulted a Dunedin City Council parking warden in central Dunedin yesterday.

Southern District Command Centre Senior Sergeant James Ure said the Dunedin man was arrested after he appeared to push the parking warden during an altercation in George St about 11am.

Police had viewed CCTV footage of the incident, which showed the parking warden approaching a commercial vehicle parked illegally on a bus stop near the Octagon, Snr Sgt Ure said.

"An infringement notice was being issued."

After some words were exchanged, physical contact was made and there was a call to police.

"[The warden] has made a complaint that there was a push involved, and having viewed the CCTV footage, it appears to substantiate that."

The parking warden declined to comment yesterday.

However, council customer and regulatory services group manager Adrian Blair said the parking warden had been "shoved'' by the driver, leaving him with shoulder pain and forcing him to seek medical attention.

The actions of the driver were unacceptable, Mr Blair said.

"Parking wardens have an extremely difficult, but important, job to do.

"Unfortunately, wardens do sometimes bear the brunt of public frustration.

"However, any form of physical contact is simply not acceptable and we will have no hesitation in referring such instances to police.'"

Mr Blair said the council was looking at various options for placing cameras on parking warden bikes and parking wardens themselves, in a bid to record information about incidents that occur while in the line of duty.

He said a trial would be conducted, but the timing for it was yet to be decided.

"A trial has already been discussed and is not in reaction to today's incident."