Police Patrol School Run After Parents' Parking Punch-Up

Police Patrol School Run After Parents' Parking Punch-Up

Children watched in horror as a group of parents began brawling over dangerous parking outside a primary school.

Police were called and are now patrolling the morning and afternoon school runs after one dad was punched in the face and dads squared up to each other.

The incidents come just a week after an eight-year-old boy was hit on his way into St Margaret's Primary in Whalley Range, Manchester, by a car driven by a parent. He spent three days in hospital with abdominal injuries.

One incident was caught on video, showing a dad getting out of his car to challenge another who had stopped on the wrong side of the road and was refusing to move.

Another parent had to separate the two men, who shouted abuse at each other, before one banged on the other's car.

Mum-of-one Lindsey Gibbons, 26, whose daughter attends the school's nursery, told the Manchester Evening News: "Parents arguing with each other is a daily occurrence. PTA members who try to help get abuse too."

In a letter to parents sent out earlier this week, headteacher Alison White said she was 'at a loss for words that parents or carers are still behaving in a manner that is putting children's lives at risk'.

The letter continues: "It further saddens me that members of my staff and myself are being put in situations where parents/carers cannot control their tempers and are resulting (sic) to violent behaviour or verbal abuse towards one another.

"If we do not change our behaviours a child is going to be killed. It could be your child."

The dad was assaulted last Tuesday after challenging another parent over dangerous parking on Withington Road.

The victim, in his 30s, was crossing Withington Road with his son outside the school when he spotted another parent parked illegally on zigzag yellow lines at the entrance.

After getting into an argument the driver, also a parent, got out of the car and punched the dad in the face.

The headteacher said: "The parking outside of school has been and continues to be a serious problem and the school has taken steps to alleviate the problem and is working with councillors and the police.

"We are extremely pleased that the school is going to be part of the new Smartcar patrol which will identify those parents who are not changing their behaviour.

"Ultimately I feel it's the responsibility of the whole school community to ensure all our children are safe and this will only happen when all adults take responsibility for their actions."

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