Parents who park dangerously or illegally near schools could put the lives of their children and other pupils at risk.

This is the stern message police officers are delivering as they visit schools across the borough to ask children to educate their parents about parking safely.

PC Tony Watson and PCSO Graham Tippett from the Potters Bar and Shenley Safer Neighbourhood Team visited Shenley Primary School in London Road in Shenley this morning.

The officers, accompanied by Hertsmere Borough Council’s Partnerships Support Officer Loran Kingston, talked to 300 pupils aged three to 11 about the dangers of illegal parking.

A banner, funded by Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership, reading ‘parking illegally could cost a child’s life, stay off yellow lines, zig zags and pavements, has been put up outside the school’.

PC Watson said there had been ongoing issues with parents parking illegally and dangerously at Shenley Primary School, which the police wanted to ask pupils to help prevent.

He said: “We want to make sure we prevent a serious collision – or worse – by educating pupils and their parents. 

“We hope that the pupils will tell their parents or carers not to park dangerously or illegally when dropping them off or picking them up from school.  We want them to think about their own safety, encourage their parents to allow more time to get to school and think about other young people that may not be aware of the potential dangers on our roads.”

PCs, PCSOs and civil enforcement officers from Hertsmere Council regularly patrol and enforce parking regulations and those seen breaking them could be fined £30.

Cllr Charles Goldstein, who has responsibility for community safety, said: “Dangerous and thoughtless parking outside schools is a common issue in our communities so it’s great to see this partnership project try to address it.

“Parents especially should know the dangers of parking on yellow zig zags and in other restricted areas so we ask all of them and the wider community to please adhere to restrictions around school premises.  They are there for a reason, to help keep your children safe.”

Parents will be invited to a follow-up talk to try and resolve this ongoing issue and see if the assemblies and enforcement has improved the parking problem around the school.