The number of penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued by London’s highway authorities rose by 10% during the last financial year.

New statistics issued by London Councils show that the capital’s boroughs and Transport for London (TfL) issued a total of 5,616,402 PCNs for parking and moving traffic contraventions in 2017-18 with fines of up to £130.

It said this represented an increase of almost 10% compared to 2016/17 (5,132,319).

In 2017/18, TfL issued over half a million PCNs (573,764), while Westminster City Council was the borough issuing the most tickets, at 323,687.

London Councils defended its approach to enforcement. Cllr Julian Bell, chair of its Transport and Environment Committee, said: ‘The management of traffic and parking in London is an essential service, provided by London’s boroughs and TfL, which keeps London moving.

‘I am pleased to say that the vast majority of road users in London understand and abide by the rules that are there to help and protect them.

‘London boroughs and TfL only issue PCNs when they believe they have evidence that a breach of parking or moving traffic rules has occurred. All PCN income goes towards paying for the provision of essential traffic and parking services, with any surplus funding invested in other important transport projects such as the Freedom Pass concessionary travel scheme for older and disabled Londoners.’

The statistics include fines for parking offences, driving in bus lanes and moving traffic violations, and those issued under the London lorry control scheme.

In England, only London’s boroughs and TfL have the power to issue PCNs for moving traffic violations, other than driving in bus lanes.

This article first appeared on Transport Network.