The Protection of Freedoms Act was introduced in 2012. It contains new laws to deal with parking on private land which are due to came into effect in October 2012 . As has been demanded by the public for years, wheel clamping on private land has now become illegal. Specifically, wheel clamping without lawful authority has become illegal. Lawful authority allows for exceptions where there is specific legislation, such as certain train station car parks or public roads.
However, section 56 of the Act introduces a change in law to make the keeper of a vehicle liable for parking charges incurred on private land if the keeper does not know the identity of the driver at the time. Previously for private parking fines, the land owner could only pursue the driver of the vehicle at the time since that is who they had a contract with. Now the registered keeper can be pursued.
In 2015 The Suprime Court has unambiguously confirmed that parking charge notices issued on private land are fully enforceable. See the case or Parking Eye vs Beavis (2015)