ANNOUNCEMENTS will be made in the Queen s Speech this week about the future of cowboy clampers who target motorists with extortionate fines. Drivers across the borough have been left reeling by massive bills, totalling hundreds of pounds, doled out by cl

ANNOUNCEMENTS will be made in the Queen's Speech this week about the future of cowboy clampers who target motorists with extortionate fines.

Drivers across the borough have been left reeling by massive bills, totalling hundreds of pounds, doled out by clamping businesses, which are largely unregulated.

Complaints have been made to the POST and to Dagenham MP Jon Cruddas, who has vowed to raise the issue in Parliament.

He said: "I have heard reports of private car clamping operators pouncing on cars on private land, intimidating drivers.

"I want to raise a few law changes and regulation changes in parliament and I want to find out if any more local people have experienced this so we can build the case for legal changes.

"I have heard of �800 fines going to vulnerable people who have parked wrongly for just a few minutes."

Over the last year the POST has covered three stories where motorists claim they were targeted by clampers for no good reason.

In April Mohammad Khursid claimed he was clamped in a private alleyway in Ripple Road, Barking.

He said clampers got three cars that day - totalling �1,500 in fines.

Then in August Hayley White, from Dagenham, was clamped in the Cherry Tree Pub car park in Rainham.

She is disabled and said she had to call police to get the clampers to release her car. She was fined �375.

And in September Jeevan Swaminathan said he was clamped in his own driveway in Tallow Close, Dagenham and his car was towed away.

He was fined �1,100 but this was later reduced to �600.

The Home Office carried out a consultation on wheel clamping businesses earlier this year to see if they could introduce a compulsory licensing scheme to the sector.

It is hoped the legislation will go ahead as part of a Policing, Crime and Private Security Bill.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The findings of the consultation are not yet available.

"However this issue will be raised in the Queen's speech on Wednesday (November 18) which should make things clearer."

If you have fallen foul of a wheel clamping company please contact MP Jon Cruddas at his constituency office on 020 8984 7854.