TRAFFIC wardens in south Essex will be fitted with body cameras to deter assaults and gather evidence on poorly parked motorists.

The South Essex Parking Partnership will provide wardens with the devices in Basildon, Castle Point and Rochford early next month after a deal with Reveal Media, which supplies the cameras to police officers and security guards.

It is thought the introduction of the cameras is designed to keep wardens safe, but the partnership has declined to comment further.

Paul Downes, 65, of Handley’s Chase, Noak Bridge, was fined £70 last year after being snapped by a CCTV car when he pulled into a bus stop at Basildon bus station to pick up a 68-year-old friend.

He said: “The cameras are a good idea if it enforces the law.

“I’ve seen people lose their temper with traffic wardens, which sometimes is warranted, but when it becomes physical, it’s not acceptable.”

Wendy Cameron, 67, of Eastern Esplanade, Canvey, previously spoke out about the decision to enforce a summer parking ban in a small car park in the road, which is used by visitors and tourists.

She said: “I suppose in these days and times, anything whichkeeps parking wardens safe is worth doing.”

Ukip county councillor Mark Ellis was handed a parking ticket outside his home in Samuel Road, Langdon Hills, after he made space for a seven-ton delivery lorry to drop off the area’s grit supplies.

He claims the parking warden told him to appeal against it and it would get quashed immediately, but he ended up with a fine of £150 when the appeal failed.

He said: “The cameras could have saved me £150 for parking outside my own home. I’m all for it.

“You can’t argue with a camera, with real film and footage. I think it absolutely is a good idea and I would like to see it introduced.”

When CCTV cars were introduced by local councils, the number of fines issued rocketed. Last year the car, dubbed the Beast of Basildon, issued 3,279 tickets to motorists, raising £102,197 for Basildon Council.

But David Kendall, a Brentwood county councillor, said the cameras would benefit motorists as well as the wardens.

He said: “The camera means events will be recorded, so if a driver is unhappy and wants to query a ticket, there will be a record of it, so the camera will work both ways.

“What needs to happen is for the cameras to be rolled out and to then get feedback on how they’re working. It’s early days yet.”