London borough wrongly destroyed pizza van, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman says

The London Borough of Barnet has reviewed its policy concerning abandoned vehicles and planned new training for its staff after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that the council’s order to destroy a pizza van was not justified.

Having been reported as abandoned the food vendor's van was towed by the council's nuisance vehicle enforcement company. But instead of storing the van, council officers ordered the trailer's immediate destruction.

The council's decision to destroy the van was particularly egregious given their failure to contact the owner beforehand, suggested Ombudsman Michael King.

His investigation focused on the fact that the van owner's phone number and email address were prominently displayed on the side of the van and that the council could have also contacted the owner via the DVLA but still failed to do so.

Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: “The council missed numerous opportunities to get hold of the owner. Instead, it ordered the trailer to be towed away and immediately destroyed, contrary to all guidance available."

In response to the Ombudsman's investigation, Barnet has agreed to pay the owner a sum of money to buy a trailer of a similar age, quality and fittings of the one it had wrongly destroyed.

It will also pay the man £500 for the distress and uncertainty caused by the loss of his trailer.

On top of compensation for the van owner, the council agreed to train its staff to remind them of the relevant law, guidance and policies when making decisions about abandoned vehicles.

A review of its policy will also take place clarifying the council’s duty to try to locate vehicle owners before destroying vehicles reported as abandoned.

In response, the Ombudsman said: “I welcome Barnet Council’s readiness to accept my recommendations to improve its services to people in the borough.

 “I hope other councils can learn from the mistakes made in this situation and examine their own policies and procedures to see what lessons they can take away”.