Use of spy cars is defended by Wolverhampton City Council leader

For more than a year the local authority has been using the CCTV car to catch drivers parking where they shouldn't outside the city's schools.

But the government has said it wants to make them illegal with local government secretary Eric Pickles saying they are just a way for councils to make money.

The car used by Wolverhampton Council has a camera on its roof and automatic numberplate recognition, which sends a fine to drivers who are illegally parked.

Since November 2012, when the car came into force, the council have handed out 494 parking tickets to motorists caught by the car.

More than 200 of those were for illegal parking outside schools.

Councillor Lawrence said: "We use our CCTV enforcement car to ensure the safety of our children on the way to school which is put at risk by illegal and inconsiderate parking.

"We have more than 100 schools and it isn't possible for traffic wardens alone to enforce all the problem sites. Our enforcement car is being used in response to parents and teachers concerns about cars being parked illegally and recklessly outside the school gates."

Mr Pickles claims the cars undermine natural justice, as the fines are sent by post and often arrive weeks later, making it hard to appeal.

But Councillor Lawrence added: "It is very clearly marked and has a large camera on its roof – so it is not doing anything covertly and we want it to be a highly visible deterrent.

"The car also plays an important role in monitoring traffic flow and keeping cars moving on busy routes around the city."

The council figures show that 224 tickets were issued for drivers parking illegally outside schools, while 188 were given to people parking in bus stops. A further 53 have been issued to people parking on pedestrian crossings, while 29 have been handed to people parking on grass verges. The city council had made a video about the uses of the car, and it was used by the Government as part of a national campaign.

Councillor Lawrence said: "The film shows the car is a very popular idea with parents and teachers from Woodfield Infants and Junior school."