A police officer has been forced to apologise after angering residents when he parked a patrol car on double yellow lines and a pavement.
The officer - who was not responding to a 999 call - was caught on camera blocking the pavement in Sherwin Street, Derby.
The illegal parking was spotted by Derby resident Sean Bastick, who said that police are quick to demand residents do not park on double yellows.
Caught: Resident Sean Bastick took pictures of illegally parked police car blocking the pavement in Derby
He said: 'When I saw the police car parked there, I was amused at how they consider themselves above the law.
'The council's own data states that yellow lines are enforceable all the way back to the building line, so parking like this does not 'get you out' of the yellow-lines restriction.
'Secondly, they are completely blocking the pavement, leaving no room at all for pedestrians, which is also illegal.'
The pictures were taken when Mr Bastick was visiting his girlfriend, who lives nearby. He said that parking was a problem as it was close to the university.
He added: 'Many students use it as a handy parking spot. As such, it is often a squeeze.
Mistake: Derbyshire Police said the force was sorry for the blunder and said the officer had been spoken to
'In the past I have parked my girlfriend's car partly on the pavement, where there are no yellow lines.
'Within minutes we had the police knocking on my girlfriend's door demanding we move her vehicle.'
Chief Inspector Tracy Harrison said the force was sorry for the blunder and said the officer had been spoken to.
She said: 'Police drivers are regularly reminded of the need to carefully consider where they park.
'It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that police vehicles are parked both lawfully and with reasonable consideration for other road users and pedestrians.
'In this case the car is plainly parked in an inappropriate place, for which we apologise.
'The officer was dealing with an incident of criminal damage, which he had a suspect in custody for, and was taking a statement as part of that inquiry but that is no excuse.
'He has been advised about the matter and appropriate action will be taken by his local inspector.'
15th April 2011
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