THE Home Office is studying plans to curb "cowboy" wheel clampers.

Clampers who charge high fines and harass car drivers would be targeted.

Home Office minister Alun Michael claims the laws governing clamping on private property are "unsatisfactory".

A test case in the Court of Appeal in 1995 decided clamping on private land was legal, as long as there were easily visible warning signs and release fees which could be deemed reasonable.

The BEN has been bombarded with complaints about wheel clamping, particularly on an area of land behind the Stanley Casino in Higher Bridge Street, Bolton.

There have been allegations of drivers being clamped without even getting out of their cars after driving onto the land to turn round.

In other cases, readers have complained of clampers "lying in wait" for unsuspecting drivers and pouncing as soon as they come to a stop.

The firm, UK Clamps, has been approached on many occasions by the BEN but has always refused to comment on individual cases.

Last October the then Home Secretary, Michael Howard, told the BEN he was considering legislation to stop the activities of firms who immobilise vehicles without proper reason.

The AA has reported a series of cases where clamping was used to extract heavy fines rather than simply control parking.

In Scotland private clamping and charging of fees can be declared theft and extortion.

There have been some alarming cases nationally.

Among the most disturbing were two elderly drivers who were forced to hand over their pensions before their cars were released, and a pregnant woman who was forced to walk three miles for cash to pay the wheel clampers.

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