Thames Valley Police has been caught "breaking the law" as officers parked a police van on a pavement in front of double yellow lines.

Parking on pavements and verges is permitted unless specifically prohibited by a local authority (either street-by-street or zonally); the prohibition requiring a formal Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).

A pavement parking prohibition was introduced in London in 1974. Local authorities in England (outside London) can enforce against pavement parking where vehicles are parked in contravention of existing waiting restrictions (for example yellow lines, which also apply to the verge and the pavement).

The Bucks Free Press was alerted to the image by a resident calling out the police force.

The image shows a police van parked on the pavement on Dean Street, Marlow on October 27. 

Thames Valley Police said: "On occasions, it is necessary for officers to park on double yellow lines for a policing purpose.

"The force has a complaints procedure, which allows members of the public to make a complaint about the force or a member of our workforce.

"Details of our complaints procedure can be found via our website  https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/contact-us/give-feedback-or-make-complaint/."