On Friday night, Kris Edukwe, a 27-year-old Londoner employed by Westminster Council sub-contractor PI Parking, was assaulted in Soho Square. He was only doing his job - but that didn't save him from a broken nose. Twelve similar attacks on PIP's plainclothes wardens have occurred in the month since the scheme began, but no arrests have been made.

According to StreetSafe Soho, the neighbourhood watch group, "Wardens already had a problem with verbal abuse and threats. We warned them these new plainclothes people could expect much worse once they were identified."

Despite the attacks, the no-uniform strategy is already a proven success, according to Brian Boot of DD Solutions management consultancy, which recommended the scheme. "When people see uniformed wardens clocking their cars, they can jump in and speed off before the tickets are issued. But these guys are casually dressed. They look like they're checking their Blackberries - then, bam, it's too late."

Mini-cab drivers, who gather in Soho's all-night cafes, are angry to have lost the few minutes' grace afforded by traditional parking wardens. Catriona Darling, secretary of StreetSafe, said, "The idea of an undercover parking force was as sinister as the ongoing installation of hidden security cameras".

County Hall claims the pilot has been a "resounding success" with a 17 per cent increase in the number of fines. The Parking Board expects "fewer problems" in June, when the scheme extends to the west side of the Congestion Charge Zone.

Meanwhile, in spite of the assaults sustained in Soho, there is no shortage of recruits for the plain clothes division - mostly from the uniformed branch.

 
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