Traffic wardens should be given extra powers, thus easing the burden on police officers and making the wardens feel more ''worthwhile'', according to a leading Scottish police officer.
The move, suggested by Mr Roy Cameron, the Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders, was unanimously supported by members of the Joint Police Board at a meeting in Edinburgh yesterday.
Mr Cameron is now seeking a meeting with the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Traffic wardens' powers are currently limited to non-endorsable offences such as issuing fixed penalty tickets, said Mr Cameron.
But since the introduction of the bus-priority Greenways system in Edinburgh, which Mr Cameron said had placed increased pressure on the police, there had been moves towards a more flexible use of wardens and a more ''worthwhile'' approach for them.
As well as dealing with Greenways offences, Mr Cameron wants wardens to have extra powers to deal with other traffic offences.
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