A recent study conducted by Claims.co.uk has identified the areas in the UK that are the most burdened by parking fines, with Manchester emerging as the top hotspot.
The study analyzed Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) data from 2020 to 2021, examining both the issuance of fines and the success rates of appeals across different regions.
Manchester claimed the leading position, with an astonishing rate of 99,348 PCNs issued per 100,000 people, a staggering 901.33% higher than the national average of 9,922 notices per 100,000 people. The City of Manchester issued a total of 546,270 fines, nearly equating to one penalty charge notice for every resident.
In second place is Brighton and Hove, with a fine issuance rate of 98,583 per 100,000 people – 893.62% higher than the national average. Following closely behind is Reading in third place, with a PCN issuance rate of 76,593 per 100,000 people.
The study also revealed that Carmarthenshire, Wales had the highest successful appeal rate in the UK, at 93.75%, followed by Bath and North East Somerset with a successful appeal rate of 87.64%. On the other hand, Hyndburn, Lancashire was identified as the area least likely to be hit with a PCN.
The average number of PCNs issued over the period across all areas in the UK was found to be 26,512, or 9,922 per 100,000 people.
The ten locations with the highest issuance rate of PCNs
| Rank | Council | Number of PCNs issued (2020 – 2021) | No. of PCNs per 100,000 residents | Difference compared to national average |
| 1. | Manchester City Council | 546,270 | 99,348 | +901.33% |
| 2. | Brighton & Hove City Council | 286,280 | 98,583 | +893.62% |
| 3. | Reading Borough Council | 132,636 | 76,593 | +671.98% |
| 4. | Cambridgeshire County Council | 98,311 | 67,935 | +584.71% |
| 5. | Nottingham City Council | 187,660 | 58,723 | +491.87% |
| 6. | Bristol City Council | 264,045 | 56,047 | +464.89% |
| 7. | Cardiff County Council | 167,501 | 46,231 | +365.97% |
| 8. | Slough Borough Council | 70,242 | 44,376 | +347.26% |
| 9. | Portsmouth City Council | 73,742 | 35,654 | +259.35% |
| 10. | Derby City Council | 89,660 | 34,335 | +246.06% |
Overall, the study sheds light on the significant variations in the frequency of PCN issuance across different regions in the UK. It also underscores a noticeable trend where rural areas tend to experience relatively lower numbers of fines, possibly due to the absence of extensive parking enforcement infrastructure.