Traffic warden hailed a hero after exposing secret quotas forcing inspectors to issue 10 tickets a day

By Emma Reynolds
Updated: 04:59 EST, 27 January 2012

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Victory: Traffic warden Hakim Berkani, left, with his lawyer and Chelsea resident Alasdair Seton-Marsden

A brave traffic warden who exposed the secret quotas enforced by parking bosses was today hailed a hero.

Hakim Berkani won his claim for unfair dismissal after he stood up to contractors NSL over their draconian policies on the streets of Kensington and Chelsea.

Mr Berkani revealed earlier this month that that wardens were forced to issue 10 tickets a day and said his colleagues referred to NSL as 'Ali Baba and his 40 thieves.'

The kind-hearted warden claimed he was harassed and eventually dismissed by NSL bosses because he preferred to warn drivers they had parked illegally rather than simply give them a ticket.

The tribunal ruled that he had been wrongly sacked for opposing contractor NSL, which operates in boroughs across London, including Westminster.

In a ruling that will have major implications for parking enforcement, a tribunal judge said his opposition to the Kensington and Chelsea firm’s quota policy could not 'justify dismissal'.

The father-of-two, from Wandsworth, was sacked for gross misconduct last February, following three years’ service, after tipping off a driver set to be given a ticket by another warden.

Mr Berkani, 45, was backed by residents and traders in his claim. He said today: 'I feel vindicated and happy. I always tried to do the correct, legal and decent thing by motorists and residents.'

During his case, internal emails revealed wardens had to issue an 'absolute minimum' of 10 tickets daily — which the firm has previously denied. Wardens who failed were disciplined.

A traffic warden for Kensington & Chelsea council (above), where Mr Berkani (not pictured here) had worked for more than three years when he was sacked

He alleged that his bosses cited one colleague as an 'excellent example' for issuing 35 tickets in a single shift.

At the tribunal in Holborn, judge Jeremy Burns ruled that Mr Berkani was unfairly dismissed for his 'opposition to the respondent’s clandestine quote system' and his GMB trade union activities. Judge Burns said Mr Berkani only issued tickets as 'a last resort'.

His judgment stated that managers felt 'under pressure' and 'passed this pressure' to the wardens, called civil enforcement officers.

The tribunal found that three NSL bosses — Andrew Davison, Stephen Rowlands and Andy Dunbar — had tried to 'frame' Mr Berkani on trumped-up charges.

Damages for Mr Berkani, who wants his job back, are to be decided at a hearing on February 27. NSL continues to dispute the existence of the quota. Alastair Cooper, its enforcement solutions director, said: 'We are extremely disappointed with this judgment and are considering our options.

'We categorically deny any suggestion that any of our colleagues are set targets or receive incentives linked to the number of penalty charge notices that are issued.'

Chelsea resident Alasdair Seton-Marsden, a former marketing director, studied law so that he could represent Mr Berkani.

A spokesman for NSL said: 'We are extremely disappointed with this judgement and are considering our options. We are an Investor in People - Gold organisation, which means our policies and procedures are recognised as being exemplary. This judgement is not a fair reflection of NSL.

'We categorically deny any suggestion that any of our colleagues are set targets or receive incentives linked to the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) that are issued.'